Deficiency?

[davej]

I have been dosing on the EI system for about a month now. I have just started to notice a problem on some of the fairly new growth of my stargrass.Check out the leaf that is hanging staightdown.

here is some glosso as well

And while we are at it is it normal for ludwigia sp guinea, to grow in so curly?

Some of my Glosso just started growing straight up rather than hugging the substrate, I think this is due to the need for more light , due to shading from some other plants explosive growth with the EI dosing.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Deficiency?

Since we know it cannot be NO3, it has to be CO2.
Curled leaves, pale melting leaves etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[davej]

Re: Deficiency?

For NO3 I am dosing 1/2 tsp every three days, in a 60 gallon volume of water. For C02 I have KH at 4-5 (at 4 reagent starting to change color, at 5 fully changed), Ph controller set at 6.4

 

[quenton]

Re: Deficiency?

For NO3 I am dosing 1/2 tsp every three days, in a 60 gallon volume of water. For C02 I have KH at 4-5 (at 4 reagent starting to change color, at 5 fully changed), Ph controller set at 6.4

If you have 60g of water (presumably about 75g tank) -- you should be dosing 5/8tsp 3x a week -- so 1/2tsp rounded up a bit.

Also
1/8 to 3/16tsp KH2PO4 for phosphates
1/4tsp K2SO4 (optionally if you want to kick your K up a bit).

You also want
1/4tsp CSM+B -or- 14-15ml TMG

Each item above dosed 3x per week.

If you are dosing 1/2tsp KNO3 2x a week, you will be low in nitrate.

 

[davej]

Re: Deficiency?

Sorry my mistake, I meant 3 times every other day. Phosphate and K as you posted. I have been adding 10ml TMG and 3ml Flourish Iron as well.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Deficiency?

So that just confirms CO2 too me.

What is the tank water pH if you take a sample and sit out for 24-48 hours?
Use that and drop the pH to 1.0 to 1.2 range from whatever that reading is.
You likely are not too far off the CO2, just a little and perhaps just part of the day.

pH controller are notorious for being able to respond for a little while but thenm can not catch up later in the day.

Make sure the bubble rate is set high if you use a pH controller.

By that, I mean compared if you set it for a 24/7 bubble rate or at the bare min, the rate you'd set it for good growth if you used a solenoid and added the CO2 only during the day.

Just because you set the pH to 6.4 does not mean it stays there and that the CO2 adding method is able to fully do a good job all day long at it,.

More current through the CO2 diffusion area, method, reactor etc, and a higher bubble rate will solve some of this issue.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[davej]

Re: Deficiency?

I will take a sample out tonight and check on it.
I am using one of the small ceramic disc type diffusers inside of the tank. Do you think it would be a good idea to add a second one to get more C02 into the tank.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Deficiency?

It would help with a tank this size.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[davej]

Re: Deficiency?

I was doing a waterchange today and after adding some Calcium bicarbonate, I noticed that the area that i am having the most trouble with the water flow there is very low. I could see the cloudiness of the calcium barely moving, so I have added a powerhead to the tank to move the water around more. I hope that this may have been my problem, as you said Tom not enough C02, but maybe because there wasnt enough movement to get the C02 around.I placed the powerhead above the bubbles so they get sucked in blown around the tank some more. I also hooked the controller and c02 solenoid up to the light timer so they all get shut off when the lights go out.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Deficiency?

Yes, good flow will help, trim the plants, perhaps add more current.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[quenton]

Re: Deficiency?

Hey, I love that tank -- too bad you are way out there in BC instead of near me here in Toronto (or vice versa -- maybe I would rather be out there -- but I',m not -- )

 

[davej]

Re: Deficiency?

Thanks for the comment. Today I did a huge trim and changed how the return is pointing, should get a nice gentle turnover of the whole tank now. Now for the hard part, wait and see how it works. Oh yeah I am still going to add a second diffuser to the tank as well. Thanks for the help.

Dave

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Deficiency?

Anytime anyone does a large uprooting or pruning, always do a water change, if you really hack things hard, etc, do another water change in 3-5 days.

Regards,
Tom Barr