Just sharing my experience on this one.
As most people know I have recently setup a large co2 driven planted tank using the EI principle.
However unlike most I am using a 75:25 ratio of RO:Tap water.
Even though I have 324w of T5 lighting (equiv to 486W of standard T8) I have had no algae in any form whatsoever. I even had the lighting & CO2 on full power for 2 weeks with just a bare tank & no plants & still no algae. Why is this?? Most people seem to get massive outbreaks of algae/bacterial blooms etc??
Since day one my stats have been almost perfect. For the first 3 weeks I have done a full range measure. Not once has my ammonia spiked, nitrites have always been imeasurable with no colour to test, nitrates hardly any to speak of etc etc. PH was originally @ 7.2 but now at 7 with addition of CO2
In fact I was so paranoid about this that i had the water tested @ my local fish shop to confirm.
I have been dosing the EI principle for 2 weeks now. I dose 5ppm nitrate & 1 ppm phosphate on the required days & a 50:50 mix of dry trace:magnesium sulphate to the recommended levels on the required days.
My plants have been growing to ridiculous proportions & I'm getting to the point now I will be throwing clumps in the bin, ebay anyone??
I water change 75litres a week which is kept in a giant contanier with a powerhead running, this is dosed with 1 teaspoon of R/O right & 20ml of tap safe.
This is my first planted tank & I'm putting this down to the RO water & EI rather than my skill @ keeping fish.
I'm posting this as a possible guide to anyone who is thinking about going down this route & my findings of using the techniques I am employing & to anyone who is considering the use of R/O water.
You can read all about it here
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=112553&st=0
As most people know I have recently setup a large co2 driven planted tank using the EI principle.
However unlike most I am using a 75:25 ratio of RO:Tap water.
Even though I have 324w of T5 lighting (equiv to 486W of standard T8) I have had no algae in any form whatsoever. I even had the lighting & CO2 on full power for 2 weeks with just a bare tank & no plants & still no algae. Why is this?? Most people seem to get massive outbreaks of algae/bacterial blooms etc??
Since day one my stats have been almost perfect. For the first 3 weeks I have done a full range measure. Not once has my ammonia spiked, nitrites have always been imeasurable with no colour to test, nitrates hardly any to speak of etc etc. PH was originally @ 7.2 but now at 7 with addition of CO2
In fact I was so paranoid about this that i had the water tested @ my local fish shop to confirm.
I have been dosing the EI principle for 2 weeks now. I dose 5ppm nitrate & 1 ppm phosphate on the required days & a 50:50 mix of dry trace:magnesium sulphate to the recommended levels on the required days.
My plants have been growing to ridiculous proportions & I'm getting to the point now I will be throwing clumps in the bin, ebay anyone??
I water change 75litres a week which is kept in a giant contanier with a powerhead running, this is dosed with 1 teaspoon of R/O right & 20ml of tap safe.
This is my first planted tank & I'm putting this down to the RO water & EI rather than my skill @ keeping fish.
I'm posting this as a possible guide to anyone who is thinking about going down this route & my findings of using the techniques I am employing & to anyone who is considering the use of R/O water.
You can read all about it here
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=112553&st=0
