So I have been struggling for over a year and I'm just about at whit' s end with my plant growth, similar experience to edelry.junior . Looking at many of the EI tanks in the journals such as Pikez "Rotala Kill" In general stunted growth everywhere and what are considered as easy/aquatic weeds just do nothing. There must be something that I am doing wrong, but from all my reading I am meeting all light, fert and CO2 but something is wrong. So I'm open to suggestions, help and guidance on what to change to get it right.
Tank Hardware.
Tank 220 l / 54 US GAL. size 100cm x 40cm x 55cm
Filters 2 x 1200lph
lights 2 x 39w T5HO (4xT5 unit but only running 2 tubes)
Pressurised CO2 through DIY reactor
Tropica soil
Maple rock and wood for decor
System timing
CO2 on at 14.00 off at 22.30
lights on at 16.30 off at 23.00
Ferts
Full E I started at standard levels but had massive plant loss. Now currently running at about 2 x standard.
DIY solution mixed with 1l RO water dosing 90cl per dose
Dosing macro's every Sunday Tuesday and Thursday
Micro's Monday Wednesday and Friday
Rest day Saturday
CO2 profile
Continuous reading every 30 mins. Read at substrate level at the back left behind rocks so in theory should be the point with least circulation. Over 1 point drop at lights on. I feel I have good circulation throughout the tank as plants as gently swaying all over the tank.
Water Chemistry
Water hardness rock hard 19GH 12KH majority is calcium.
Weekly water change of 75%
Tank Images
"warts and all" before maintenance today.
Full
L. repens
L. palustris
Pin holes and stunted growth points me toward Potassium deficiency but I am at 2x EI level, I read about Fert ratio's is this the problem? however starting at standard EI levels I had the same issue.
So where am i going wrong? What should I change to at least grow "easy" plants!
Tank Hardware.
Tank 220 l / 54 US GAL. size 100cm x 40cm x 55cm
Filters 2 x 1200lph
lights 2 x 39w T5HO (4xT5 unit but only running 2 tubes)
Pressurised CO2 through DIY reactor
Tropica soil
Maple rock and wood for decor
System timing
CO2 on at 14.00 off at 22.30
lights on at 16.30 off at 23.00
Ferts
Full E I started at standard levels but had massive plant loss. Now currently running at about 2 x standard.
DIY solution mixed with 1l RO water dosing 90cl per dose
Dosing macro's every Sunday Tuesday and Thursday
Micro's Monday Wednesday and Friday
Rest day Saturday
CO2 profile
Continuous reading every 30 mins. Read at substrate level at the back left behind rocks so in theory should be the point with least circulation. Over 1 point drop at lights on. I feel I have good circulation throughout the tank as plants as gently swaying all over the tank.
Water Chemistry
Water hardness rock hard 19GH 12KH majority is calcium.
Weekly water change of 75%
Tank Images
"warts and all" before maintenance today.
Full
L. repens
L. palustris
Pin holes and stunted growth points me toward Potassium deficiency but I am at 2x EI level, I read about Fert ratio's is this the problem? however starting at standard EI levels I had the same issue.
So where am i going wrong? What should I change to at least grow "easy" plants!