Some Questions About Co2

[fatheadminnow]

Well, I just bought that last part of my Co2 setup (The regulator) which should be arriving by the end of this week.

My question is about dosing Macro ferts.

I will have around 30 ppm of Co2, and I need to know how much fert should I dose? Should I do full EI, or just dose once or twice a week?

pH around 8, 1.6 WPG, 55 US gallon tank.

Also, what about Trace? I have CSM+B, when/how much should I dose this?

Oh oh, I also got some Magnesium Sulfate from a very generous member on here, when/how much should I dose this?

Thanks!

-FHM

 

[three-fingers]

Up to you what route you want to go down. 30ppm would mean that CO2 should never be limiting, so going by the EI principle I would then mix an all-in-one or all-in-two stock solutions using the powders then just dose daily.

Use this page to mix the ferts: http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

I made an all-in-two fert when I did it, simply to separate the trace from the macros (and magnesium) so I wouldn't have to buy ascorbic acid to stop the potassium phosphate reacting with the iron traces.

And the values to aim for dosing (to ensure that none are ever limited) would be:

Nitrate (NO3) 20ppm per week
Potassium (K) 30ppm per week
Phosphate (PO4) 3ppm per week
Magnesium (Mg) 10ppm per week

Trace (which should include iron) - roughly 1-1.5 grams a week for your size of tank, work that into a stock solution for ease or add directly.

From this page: http/www.ukaps.org/EI.htm

You can spread this out as many days as you want, I like daily because it's easier to remember and the values in the tank don't fluctuate so much, though to be honest I doubt it matters.

With EI remember the weekly water changes.

Or, depending on your setup and desired growth rates, you could say for example half everything and dose once a week and see how that goes, if you notice deficiencies - up the dosage or change the mixture. Nothing wrong with experimenting.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks a lot for that article! I really enjoyed reading it!

I would like to hear from more members before I make a final decision on this.

Thanks again!

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

Potassium Nitrate - 40g to 500ml of water and adding 10ml per 100L of water would give you a value of 5ppm.
Potassium Phosphate - 15g to 500ml of water and adding 5ml per 100L of water would give you a value of 1ppm.
Magnesium Sulphate - 50g to 500ml of water; add 30ml per 100l to get 3ppm
Trace - 25g to 500ml and dose 20ml per 100L

use tap water to mix them, make monthly batches of each product.

For 55g:

20ml KNO3
5ml KH2PO4
90ml MgSO4
20ml trace

x3 per week

That is using Estimative Index, you can sart off with dosing just once a week if you want, then raise it to 2x, then 3x depending on growth.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay! Thanks a lot for your help!

If I wanted to mix potassium nitrate with potassium phosphate into one container...how much should I mix and how much should I dose?

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

Okay! Thanks a lot for your help!

If I wanted to mix potassium nitrate with potassium phosphate into one container...how much should I mix and how much should I dose?

-FHM

35g KNO3
5g KH2PO4

both into 500ml water and dose 40ml x3 per week.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Should I keep the Co2 on 24/7 or turn it on in the morning and off at night? If so, when should it be turned on/off compared to when the light turns on/off?

Also, what is amesC's all in one solution? And what does this include?

Thanks!

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

James' all in one is a DIY TPN+

its up to you which way you go with the CO2. If you do turn it off, then have it come on 2hrs before lights on, then off about 2hrs before lights off.
I have mine go off when the DC turns yellow (usually 3hrs before lights off). There is enough CO2 to last the rest of the photperiod

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, thanks!

-FHM

 

[fatheadminnow]

The pH in my tank is near 8.0. How much will this fluctuate when I start to add Co2, and how will this effect my fish?

Thanks!

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

usually about 1 unit,

 

[fatheadminnow]

So, the pH will fluctuate from 8 to 7 every day, or will it remain at the lower unit, even when the Co2 is off at night?

I have Cichlids, do you think is going to be a big deal/stresser to them?

How long does it take the pH to change, if it takes a while, then I would imagine that the fish would be just fine.

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

it changes slowly over the course of the day, hitting a low of pH7, before rising again when it is turned off.


I cant guarantee it will be pH7, if your KH is above 4 then it shouldnt drop below pH6.6

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, but how does this daily pH change effect the fish?

Thanks again!

-FHM

 

[Mikaila31]

Your water probably won't fluctuate a whole degree. Depends what ppm you run CO2 at. At 30pmm, according to my drop checkers, ph drops .4-.6 normally and I think your water is harder or at least as hard as mine. The higher the kh and the harder the water the greater the buffering ability of the water and the more it resists pH changes. My KH is about 8 degrees. I was trying to do a GH test today, but couldn't get anything. I'm not sure if the reagent is working. Its suppose to go from red to green, but its yellow..... I'm pretty sure its between somewhat hard to liquid rock.

My CO2 gets turned off at night and I've never had a issue. None of my fish seem to be bothered by it. I'm pretty sure your cichlids will be fine.