What Would You Use?

[carpking]

Hi All

Looking to change the way i fert my tank now its low tec and not running CO2 and is 180l in size.

Ive been looking into the EI method from APFUK and also the Neutro T from aqua essentials does anyone have any experience with ether of these dosing methods i will be using a liquid CO2 along side them.

Thanks in advance

 

[SO19Firearms]

If you're using liquid CO2 IMO you'll want Neutro+
Either method will be fine so long as you're commited to the 50% water changes for EI.

 

[carpking]

Hi Thanks for the reply

is says to do 20% - 50% water changers for the EI i normally do 30% anyway but would you say i should up that to 50%?

Also with the Neutro+ that is just Mirco's is that correct so i wouldnt get the macro's as i would with EI?

Have you used ether system?

 

[SO19Firearms]

Neutro+ is Macros and Micros (T is just trace, thats why I don't believe they should recommend it with Carbon)

EI is only 50% IME anything else is made up.
 
EDIT: Have I used either, yes. I don't have a tank currently but you could say I'm deeply involved with EI. I've never used Neutro products and personally would never buy a fertiliser without an analysis. Fertiliser laws exist to stop people buying magic bottles of water. Having said that AE is well respected and I'm sure that's not the case - but how do you know if you should up the dose if you don't know what the dose is in the first place.....IMO

 

[carpking]

Thanks

So what would you recommend for my low tec set up?

 

[SO19Firearms]

If you're using liquid carbon I'd say you're Hi-tech - So you could use Nutro+ - If you want to save money you could go EI.
 
If you want to stay truely low tech and not use carbon, keep your lighting low, I'd still use Neutro+ or use EI at 1/3 the stated doses.
 
 
 
HTH

 

[levahe]

50% water changes for E.I. dosing was recommended by Tom Barr as a rough guideline, you can tailor the water changes to suit your tank and conditions.
If you have a very high light - high energy co2 injected tank then 50% applies. If you have lower light and therefore lower fert/co2 requirements then you can do less water changes whilst using EI. because you use less ferts. A low tech tank using E.I. (micros) will only need small water changes.
If you are using liquid co2 + E.I. you won't be pushing plant growth to the maximum so you won't need to do the maximum recommended water changes and you would probably find 30% that you do already will be enough.

 

[carpking]

So then SO19

im going to try EI i think it covers everything im also to add Liquid CO2 and i will dose as recommend and do the 50% water change weekly and see how i get on.

Thanks for the help.

 

[SO19Firearms]

No worries. Crack on