Ok, I think I am going to get my 240g running this coming week. I didnt get any responses about my dosing really in a previous thread so thought I'd start a more specific thread. BTW my tank build thread on TPT is here: My 240g build journal, latest pics: filtration - The Planted Tank Forum
Ferts: Will be using KNO3, KH2PO4, and Flourish. I also have some MgSO4 but not sure if that will be useful or not. I was hoping to use TPN but can't seem to find it in the big bottles anywhere in stock so I am trying flourish for the first time. Also trying to locate a supplier I can get some bulk bags of KNO3 and KH2PO4 but no luck yet.
Dosing: I've not seen any dosing for ~300g so what I did was multiply the 90-125g dosing from the EI light thread by 3 for roughly 300g (240G tank, 66g sump, of course actual water volume is slightly less) so thats 4 1/2 tsp KNO3 x3 per week, 1 1/2 tsp KH2PO4 x3 per week, 90ml trace x 3 per week. Man thats a big jump from my 75g.
But here is the twist. I am going to try my hand at automation with some DIY liquid dosers. Only thing is as far as I can tell I cant set my timers to different days, meaning each is to dose each day. And for the sake of freeing up a timer I'd like to just dose em at the same time. Though they will be dosed into opposite sump tanks (I'll have two sumps) and the concentrate tanks will be separate.
So the weekly amount from above:
4.5tsp KNO3 X 3 = 13.5 tsp (rnd to 14) / 7 = 2 tsp daily KNO3
1.5tsp KH2PO4 x 3 = 4.5 tsp / 7 = 2/3 tsp daily KH2PO4
and 90ml x 3 = 270ml / 7 = 38.6ml rnd to 40 ml daily Flourish
Do these numbers look good? Did I miss anything in the math? Would additional Mg be any good (or anything else for that matter)?
I will also be doing daily water changes with tap water run through micron and chlorine guzzler filters. I figure 10% daily will yield roughly 50% effective weekly change (but havent done the exact math).
And since my plant load will start out much less than 'heavy' I figure starting off at 50% dosing levels. Any suggestion appreciated, as I'd like to avoid algae at all costs. I also will most likely not through any fish in there right off the bat either. If there is no fish would it be any good to increase co2 over 30ppm starting out? The first batch of fish will probably be the algae crew whenever it is, SAE's, flag fish, ottos, and BN plecs.
Ferts: Will be using KNO3, KH2PO4, and Flourish. I also have some MgSO4 but not sure if that will be useful or not. I was hoping to use TPN but can't seem to find it in the big bottles anywhere in stock so I am trying flourish for the first time. Also trying to locate a supplier I can get some bulk bags of KNO3 and KH2PO4 but no luck yet.
Dosing: I've not seen any dosing for ~300g so what I did was multiply the 90-125g dosing from the EI light thread by 3 for roughly 300g (240G tank, 66g sump, of course actual water volume is slightly less) so thats 4 1/2 tsp KNO3 x3 per week, 1 1/2 tsp KH2PO4 x3 per week, 90ml trace x 3 per week. Man thats a big jump from my 75g.
But here is the twist. I am going to try my hand at automation with some DIY liquid dosers. Only thing is as far as I can tell I cant set my timers to different days, meaning each is to dose each day. And for the sake of freeing up a timer I'd like to just dose em at the same time. Though they will be dosed into opposite sump tanks (I'll have two sumps) and the concentrate tanks will be separate.
So the weekly amount from above:
4.5tsp KNO3 X 3 = 13.5 tsp (rnd to 14) / 7 = 2 tsp daily KNO3
1.5tsp KH2PO4 x 3 = 4.5 tsp / 7 = 2/3 tsp daily KH2PO4
and 90ml x 3 = 270ml / 7 = 38.6ml rnd to 40 ml daily Flourish
Do these numbers look good? Did I miss anything in the math? Would additional Mg be any good (or anything else for that matter)?
I will also be doing daily water changes with tap water run through micron and chlorine guzzler filters. I figure 10% daily will yield roughly 50% effective weekly change (but havent done the exact math).
And since my plant load will start out much less than 'heavy' I figure starting off at 50% dosing levels. Any suggestion appreciated, as I'd like to avoid algae at all costs. I also will most likely not through any fish in there right off the bat either. If there is no fish would it be any good to increase co2 over 30ppm starting out? The first batch of fish will probably be the algae crew whenever it is, SAE's, flag fish, ottos, and BN plecs.