New Ei Regime

[houndour]

I've decided to dose my ferts directly. I know it's not very accurate, but I used less than half a bottle and it went all mouldy.

Would somebody help double check my figures.

I have some spoons I got on ebay (1/32th, 1/16th and 1/8th of a teaspoon).

1/32th = 0.0315 of a teaspoon.

Unfortunately the calculator only goes to 2 decimal places...so I've done it as 0.03

Tank is 22 gallons/83 litres. Or should I be doing it with displacement?

(OK so when I say 1 spoonful, I mean 1/32th of a teaspoon!)

1 spoon KNO3 = 1.18ppm NO3 and 0.75ppm K
1 spoon KH2PO4 = 1.35ppm PO4
1 spoon K2SO4 = 0.87ppm K

So I think 4/32th or 1/8th = approx 5ppm Nitrate

How much K should I try to start with?

1/32th of PO4 is OK.

Of course, the real ppms would be slighly higher allowing for error.

I think I will have to go back to lots of testing again to get it right.

 

[zig]

Hiya Sam

I really need to get my head around these teaspoon measurements as well, ive been trying to become fleunt in teaspoon measurements over the last few weeks, but the measurements in ppm are just so much easier to follow, anyway heres to some info to get you started, the first link is great and should really be bookmarked by everybody into planted tanks, it basically gives every possible conversion factor you will ever need when dealing with different chemicals whether they be in teaspoons or ppm, but there is loads of info on the page about different conversion factors and chemical computations.


http/users.ev1.net/~SPITUCH/Chemicals/chemicals.html

This would be my understanding of the correct dosage in teaspoons for your tank.

1/4 teaspoon of KNO3 3x per week
1/16 teaspoon KH2PO4 3x per week
1/16 teaspoon K2SO4 3x per week
5ml Trace 3x per week
1-2ml iron Fe 3x per week (optional)

If you follow the above dosing schedule you wont go far wrong, id need to do a bit of homework to translate that into ppm but im sure you will work it out with the link i gave you, if your not sure just ask and i will try and work it out into ppm (im just feeling lazy) anyway......HTH

 

[AndyTaylor]

Waiting on my chems to arrive to start my EI regime.....that link is great, zig. Nice one.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

hey houndour im with you in this, my premix bottle tends to go mouldy (floating particles inside) after a while, right now i changed how i dosed and used boiled drinking water for the solution, i also pre heated all instruments before coming in contant with the pure kno3, so far there is no mold forming ( and i also place nothing inside the bottle and simply pour the solution into a small plastic cup (the one they use for err urine samples i think)... trying to keep the bottle contact free

 

[zig]

Sam that dosage i gave above is probably too much for your tank, i will have to work out the ppm later today, i think with what i have written above you would be dosing 10ppm KNO3 3x per week, you need less than this given that the nitrates are allready a bit high from the fishload. I think your own calculations are correct.

 

[jimbooo]

interesting. i'm not having mold problems with the Macro's but my CSM+B looks aweful, like someone's blown their nose in it. should i be re mixing the solution or shall i continue shaking the hell out of it and carrying on dosing with "juicy bits". also of the 3 KNO3 mixes i use (3 tanks) one of them has formed big crystals in the bottle. probably 5 crystals around 2cm wide and 5cm long. firstly am i inadvertantly making a bomb, and secondly why is it doing this (i was way within maximum solubility when mixing). obviously my ppm/ml for that mix will be way off.

 

[zig]

huh........and they were slagging me for keeping my ferts in the fridge eh........try keeping the CSM+B in the fridge jimbooo and only mix up small quantities at a time, thats the only fert i keep fridged the rest i just leave beside the tank at room temprature, i have noticed a tiny bit of "juicy bits" in the CSM+B as you so eloquetly describe them but i dose it anyway and it does not seem to be a problem.

Bomb making is illegal and i wouldnt recommend it near a tank with a dodgy brace!

 

[jimbooo]

thanks mate. i've only made up 300ml of CSM+B but will put it in the fridge tonight. as to the bomb making i assume you need to add something else to the pot. nitrate to make it explosive (i'm not asking for instructions so please nobody post a how to blow up your house reply). those crystals are scaring me though, theyre HUGE.

bodge job on brace going ahead tonight, fingers crossed

sorry to hijack sam.

edit: zig, you may be interested to hear i have been dosing the CSM+B as per instructions any my iron is 9mg/l in all tanks where it should be about 2/3 i think it has too much iron in it (which would explain my algae outbreak) have you tested your iron at all?

and my kits fine i have 2 iron kits and both gave the same reading (as i know their normally vague)

 

[zig]

I dont test for iron, but i havent heard anyone else with this problem, are you sure you mixed it up correctly? It Should be 7 grams per 125ml of solution or 28 grams per 500ml, i usually just mix up 125ml at a time. I think i origionally gave you 56 grams or thereabouts enough to make 1 litre.

 

[jimbooo]

cant remember now but i'm sure i got it right, i printed your PM and used my scales and a measuring jug. i took my time so i'm sure it's right. i'll make up another mix soon and test again.