New to EI method

Lightt

Junior Poster
May 27, 2016
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Hello,


I am new to the hobby (for about 5 months) and totally inexperienced with EI method.


Last week i made an iwagumi type aquarium with sizes 80 x 30 x 40. My lightning is 24w x 3 t5 daylight 6500,4000,6500k.


I planted aquarium since day 1 (cuba, ranunculus inundatus, pogostemon helferi, rotala rotundifolia, alternanthera reinecki) and everything in terms of growth seems pretty nice and fast.


My substrate is prodibio aquagrowth soil.


I started EI method since day 2 and yesterday i v noticed green dust/dot algae growth. I checked my water and i found 50 no3. So many for an aquarium with 7 days life and without fish and i really don't know how i got so high. Maybe those high numbers are the reason for this algae growth;


My real question is if i did right beginning EI method from day 2 or should i wait 20-25 days by doing only water changes. I am afraid the active soil is so new and needs frequent w/c before i start fertilizers.


Thank you in advane
 

ShadowMac

Lifetime Members
Lifetime Member
Mar 25, 2010
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Grand Forks, ND
In the beginning you generally do not require a full EI range of ferts, since the plants are still establishing and not growing vigorously and still establishing themselves. You could probably dose less. EI should be adjusted to the demands of the tank and the ranges are generally aimed at high light densely planted fast growing setup with lots of stems. In more sparsely planted or less dense setups you can reduce the dosing amounts. Iwagumi layouts, or layouts with lots of open space will require less.


If you are using an enriched soil like ADA aquasoil you can certainly wait to start dosing for 1-3 weeks until the plants start really growing and adding plant mass. In the beginning they are growing roots and getting acclimated to the new environment.


I have found a twinstar helps with green dust algae. Right now your tank is cycling and an algae bloom isn't unusual. Frequent water changes and a rigorous maintenance routine will help greatly in this phase.
 

ShadowMac

Lifetime Members
Lifetime Member
Mar 25, 2010
1,043
13
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Grand Forks, ND
Is your tank 80 cm or 80 inches? Please specify your units. I'm assuming 80 cm given your lighting configuration. That doesn't seem like overkill to me. How close is it to the substrate? Another thing to consider in the beginning is to run your lights a minimal amount of time while things get settled in. Something like 6 hours a day. Later you can increase to 8 or 10 hours. I would never go longer than 10 hours.
 

Lightt

Junior Poster
May 27, 2016
45
0
6
Thank you for the response.


Truth is that i am running high lightning setup. The bulbs are 15-20 cm from the surface and i have 6-7 cm and 15-7cm substrate at the corners.


My growth in 1 week is stunning. Cuba closed so many gaps , (but not rooted some pieces are still in the air i can see) and i already trim rotundifolia for the first time because she went up to the surface.


My dimensions are on centimeters you guessed right.


For the lightning period ...i started with 8 hours since day 1. Co2 30-35 ppm.


So in conclusion, maybe it is better to stop the EI for now and do 2 water changes the upcoming week. After 7-10 days i may start again. Am i thinking it right;