More Tpn+?

[jaycat]

Hi,

I've got low level maintenece planted tank, but my Amazon swords leaves are still going yellow and partially transparent, I'm assuming they're not geting enough nutrition still. I dose 2 ml every day of TPN+, shall I up this amount? To what?

96l tank btw, no co2, about 30% of sustrate planted, growing nicely. However do not want to encourage any more algae growth. 2 internal filters (internal fitted + fluval 1 for circulaton)
Carpet growing ok, and Ludwigia and Wendtii.

Thanks

 

[Wolfenrook]

You might find this guide on nutrient deficiencies very useful. It would seem that you possible have a shortage of nitrates, sulphur or iron. Increasing the dosage of TPN+ should help with these.

Ade

 

[jaycat]

Very interesting, looks like they're deficient in potassium and nitrates. Shall I up to 3ml a day or more?

96l tank.

Thanks for that link, have added it to favourities for reference.

 

[aaronnorth]

i would try 5ml.

 

[jaycat]

Hi Aaron, every day?

Thanks

 

[aaronnorth]

yes.

 

[jaycat]

Many thanks Aaron and Ade

 

[jaycat]

Hi,

I'll pop some pics on tomorrow of swords, thanks..

 

[Wolfenrook]

If you have shrimp in there, don't go up to 5mls unless you are sure that your tap water is copper free. I once went up to 11mls daily in a 180 litre tank and lost most of my macrobrachium lanchesteri thanks to the increased copper levels from this. If you do have inverts in there it might be better to target fertilise for the additional needed, rather than up TPN+ dosing. This is what I am having to do in order to increase my potassium levels.

Ade

 

[aaronnorth]

5ml doesnt seem that much to me on a 96l, that is usually what is reccomended. I dose 5ml on my 60l. You must have really high copper levels Ade!

 

[Wolfenrook]

5ml doesnt seem that much to me on a 96l, that is usually what is reccomended. I dose 5ml on my 60l. You must have really high copper levels Ade!

Yup! I dose 7mls a day now, but need to dose potassium seperately as this is the one thing my plants can't get enough of. 11mls a day though on a 180 litre wouldn't seem like much either, but dead shrimp would seem to indicate that it was. My cherry shrimp went into a sulk as well when I was dosing 11mls, only coming out of it once I dropped the dosing back down again. That's Severn Trent water for you, full of copper and chlorine (I can't drink the stuff, it's disgusting, it even leaves a stink on anything plastic it is stored in!). Makes a good trace fert in itself though really. lol I daren't use water from the hot tap for water changes either, as would need to drop my dosing down even further if I did.

Ade

 

[jaycat]

Hi Ade, no, I have no shrimps in the tank. Can I ask what you mean by 'target fertilise?' is it simply adding the exact thing the plants are lacking?
Thanks, Jackie

 

[aaronnorth]

is it simply adding the exact thing the plants are lacking

yes

 

[jaycat]

I'm learning, slowly, but surely!!

 

[Wolfenrook]

Yup. Like I use TPN+ but my plants are showing signs of needing more potassium, so I have purchased some K2SO4 to supplement my fertilisation with extra potassium rather than trying to dose more TPN+ (see my earlier posts about copper problems). It can work out cheaper as well, without going the whole hog of going EI.

Ade