Liquid Fert

[yamaross]

I'm not totally sure but how do the manufactures of liquid fertilizers know how often you should dose the tank.
I would think the more plants the more often you would dose is this true?
There seems to be a rhythm to the algae growth in my tank so i guess i need to dose more often.
The manufactures say 10 to 14 days.
Has anyone experience in this?

 

[George Farmer]

We need to know more yamaross.

Tank size, lighting, planting, any CO2 etc. Include as much info as you can.

Adding more than the recommended fert dosing is generally only necessary with high growth tanks i.e. lots of light and CO2. Adding more in a tank with algae and less-than-fast growth will likely increase algae problems.

 

[yamaross]

A photo of the tank

70L tank
PH 6.7
KH 5
GH 8
2x 15w Tropical and freshwater
5 hours on 2 off 5 on
Diy Co2 Feed in with a power head
Just gravel


Just when I'm on photos any good Ida's for a different plant to hide the filter
Thanks Ross

 

[George Farmer]

Looks like you have good growth there.

I note you have 1.7 WPG (I assume you're using reflectors?) and decent CO2 levels.

Are you ensuring that the CO2 level is stable i.e. use two bottles and change the mixtures alternately? Unstable CO2 is a very common cause of algae. This may also explain the "rhythm" to the algae growth.

Do you know your nitrate and phosphate levels? Tap and tank?

 

[yamaross]

Co2 is only 2 weeks old still on a learning curve it was to strong at the start .
need to use a smaller bottle eg 1L .
The "rhythm" to the algae growth was there before the Co2 was added.
The nitrate is 0 tank and tap.
I still have the green filter sponge in the filter that is supposed to remove nitrate
i wondered how well they work (2x normal blue ones arrived this morning)
Don't have a phosphate test kit

 

[yamaross]

So what are your views on dosing the liquid fertilizer

 

[atmmachine816]

Is that val in the back if so how did you manage to get it to grow so big, i bought some a month ago and it has just started growing another leaf and the plant has only grown about a half-inch. I know I don't have much light in my tank but all day long there is natural sunlight since the tank is in front of a window and at 3 the fluerescent bulb comes on and goes off at 10. Do you think adding liquid ferts would help it grow. I know it requieres medium to high light but do you think yamaross that it will grow lilke yours?

Thanks

Austin

 

[George Farmer]

So what are your views on dosing the liquid fertilizer

What fert are you using?

 

[yamaross]

Waterlife Tropiflora.
It's like every one i bought it with my first order of plants thinking i was doing the right thing.


atmmachine the vall grows like mad I have to give it a 6" hair cut every week also remove the new runner plants and that was with just 1.7 wpg of light and liquid fert !

 

[atmmachine816]

Well I have had it for a month and no new runners and a little growth but only .666wpg and no ferts for the moment would that be why?

 

[yamaross]

(666wpg and no ferts for the moment would that be why?)

Good chance.

 

[atmmachine816]

Ok thats what I thought though I plan to get a 55w compact fluescent or a double tube hood as soon as I start reffing and get money along with adding ferts but until then I can't get much money since I am still too young to get a job but until then it wiill be a slow grower. Would it grow faster in the 2.5 galon tank since it has a 15w incadecent bulb until it grows too tall? With the small amount of light would that also be why my crypts don't shoot off any runners and take so long to grow leaves??

 

[IceH2O]

Co2 is only 2 weeks old still on a learning curve it was to strong at the start .
need to use a smaller bottle eg 1L .
The "rhythm" to the algae growth was there before the Co2 was added.
The nitrate is 0 tank and tap.
I still have the green filter sponge in the filter that is supposed to remove nitrate
i wondered how well they work (2x normal blue ones arrived this morning)
Don't have a phosphate test kit

You don't want to remove nitrates. Nitrates are the food of plants. When you have 0 nitrates the plants can't grow. Then algae takes over because they feed off the other nutrients. Check out dry ferts at GregWatson.com he also has an article on doing an estimated fertilization method.

 

[Alex_]

what i do with liquid ferts is just guess.

you really dont know if your plants are

getting all they need .