Overdosing Macros And Micros

[danski]

Well i was wondering which of the two when overdosed is more likely to cause an outbreak?Ive noticed when dosing nitrates if i go above 10ppm i get a little more hair algae a few days later...If i dose my kent freshwater plant it seems like the next day the algae has grown long and stringy..I dont have a severe break out as i think my experimenting is throwing the growth off a little..Not really experimenting but ive recently rescaped and switced to eco-complete and im still trying to get everything settled...So im trying to get my dosing right..last tests were
phosphate 1ppm
nitrate 5-10ppm closer to ten
ph 7.0 to 6.8
kh 7
thanks

 

[George Farmer]

"Overdosing" is less risky with more plant bio-mass and higher growth rates (thus nutrient uptake).

I'd suggest your planting density may be little low judging by the picture and this contributing to your algae. Algae's worst enemy is LOTS of growing plants, especially fast growers.


I'd suggest planting with more fast growing stems initially (see list in pinned algae article) then swapping these for your final plant choices once the tank has settled in and algae has dissapeared.

 

[danski]

thanks George. I suspected i needed more plant mass and im now waiting for a whole bunch more dwarf sag that should be here today. I dont think the sag grows very fast though..oh well i guess i will just be on the look out for more stems..thanks again