Dosing for low planted, low light tank?

[Anti-Pjerrot]

Im thinking about how i should dose ferts to my 55 gal tank (250L) with 4 x 39W T5.

My tapwater is kH 17 - Gh 18 - pH 7,2

The tank is (new) planted (surfacearea) 60% with eleocharis acicularis/parvula, 5% narrow fern and anubias and 5% javamoss, 10 % with rotala green and 10% Hydrocotyle verticillata and im adding 10% temporary fastgrowers today.

No fish yet - but I dont plan on having a heavy stocked tank.

I got all chemicals (salts) available incl. KNO3, KH2PO4, KHSO4, MGSO4 and so on.

For now CO2 is added through 10mL of Easycarbon per day. (Aldehyde like stuff i think) sort of the same like Excell)

As soon as i get a split-needlevalve (Not sooo available in Denmark) ill switch to my pressurized system.

Should i stick with EI or try another method?

 

[sherry]

160 watts over 55 gallons is not low light. I think with that much light you absolutely need to get on ebay or aquabid, get your splitter for the needle valve and go ahead with a full ei regime. Or am I misunderstanding how much light you have?
'

 

[Anti-Pjerrot]

Well low light is probaly an underestatement - but the real question lies on the planting, since theres so much eleocharis. Im on the splitter, but its gonna take some time... So im using the Easycarbon - maximum dosing for now. Everything is ready for the CO2- just need the splitter...

Is EI dosing preffered on that type of planting, since theres not that many fastgrowers?

The lighting gives only what equals to 30000lux - I say high light is above 70000lux

 

[Tom Barr]

I agree that's a lot of light.
Too much really.
I'd use 2x 39 watt mostly(10 hours) and then perhaps 4x 39 for a few hours, maybe 3 to 4.

I'd add at least 10mls till the CO2 comes.
Take care of the CO2 issue ASAP!.

You will not need full EI with the plants you plan on having really, maybe 2/3rds ought to be plenty until the tank is fully grown in.

Main thing is good CO2.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Anti-Pjerrot]

I actually run 2 x 39W on a sunriser, so the light is kinda like you discribe Tom.

And sorry - the tank is 66 US gal (55 UK gallons) (Come on... go metric World!!)

Ill do the 3/4 EI dosing - and hopefully ill get the splitter ASAP

Thanks all - ill get right on it.