Hi Guys,
I'm setting up this new tank and I've got a couple questions.
Please forgive me if I have misunderstood anything-- there is a lot of conflicting information out there and this seems like a good place to clear up some of my questions.
Tank Specs:
ADA mini M 5.5gallon
27 Watt PC 8000k
ADA Aqua Soil New Amazonia
Pressurized CO2 + Diffuser
Milwaukee PH controller
Eheim 2211 filter with stock media + Purigen.
Plants:
Iwagumi type layout with
HC
Dwarf Hairgrass
I'm using only RO/DI Water-- no tap water at all.
So guys, my questions are:
1. Should I add anything to the RO/DI Water even though I am using ADA AS? Or can I use it straight?
2. I want to use EI dosing with daily, large (50%) water changes for the first week, every other day for the next two weeks (or longer). Does this make sense?
3. Using EI, What dry ferts should I dose and how much (I plan to use a small gram scale for accuracy)? Does creating a stock solution make more sense for a tank this small?
4. Should I do my water changes at night, after the photoperiod, and dose right after my waterchange?
5. I have read that a PH controller is inadvisable. Why? What would cause fluctuations in my KH/GH that would throw off the PH/CO2 reading? I will be using a drop checker with a 4dkh solution as well, just in case. I fully expect to be cranking the CO2 to avoid algae problems.
I want to avoid any AS-induced algae blooms as much as possible. I figure I should do this right from the beginning.
Thanks very much for your help, this is a very interesting and informative site-- money well spent.
Thanks, and please forgive me if these questions have been asked before, I searched on the site as much as I could.
Charlie
I'm setting up this new tank and I've got a couple questions.
Please forgive me if I have misunderstood anything-- there is a lot of conflicting information out there and this seems like a good place to clear up some of my questions.
Tank Specs:
ADA mini M 5.5gallon
27 Watt PC 8000k
ADA Aqua Soil New Amazonia
Pressurized CO2 + Diffuser
Milwaukee PH controller
Eheim 2211 filter with stock media + Purigen.
Plants:
Iwagumi type layout with
HC
Dwarf Hairgrass
I'm using only RO/DI Water-- no tap water at all.
So guys, my questions are:
1. Should I add anything to the RO/DI Water even though I am using ADA AS? Or can I use it straight?
2. I want to use EI dosing with daily, large (50%) water changes for the first week, every other day for the next two weeks (or longer). Does this make sense?
3. Using EI, What dry ferts should I dose and how much (I plan to use a small gram scale for accuracy)? Does creating a stock solution make more sense for a tank this small?
4. Should I do my water changes at night, after the photoperiod, and dose right after my waterchange?
5. I have read that a PH controller is inadvisable. Why? What would cause fluctuations in my KH/GH that would throw off the PH/CO2 reading? I will be using a drop checker with a 4dkh solution as well, just in case. I fully expect to be cranking the CO2 to avoid algae problems.
I want to avoid any AS-induced algae blooms as much as possible. I figure I should do this right from the beginning.
Thanks very much for your help, this is a very interesting and informative site-- money well spent.
Thanks, and please forgive me if these questions have been asked before, I searched on the site as much as I could.
Charlie