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Dosing Question

Discussion in 'Advanced Strategies and Fertilization' started by possum, Feb 7, 2005.

  1. possum

    possum Junior Poster

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    I have been doing estimative Dosing for 3 weeks and have not done any water testing. 92 gallon tank...1 tsp KNO3 & 1/4 tsp KH2PO4 4xweek; 20 ml traces 3 week;50% water changes weekly. I did not dose anything after weekly water change yesterday. Broke out the test kits this morning because I was curious as to what levels were present after water change. Tested Phosphate: 2.0, Nitrate 10-20. I understand the test kits may not be accurate so I use them to get a general idea of what is going on. These levels are what I would expect to have read before the water change.

    Plants have shown signs of increased growth since starting this dosing method but the swords are still showing decreased red color and still seeing twisted and wrinkled leaves. Stem plants are growing like weeds.

    PH 6.5, CO2 around 30ppm, lighting 36 inch 2x175 watt MH

    Should I continue present dosing levels or reduce amounts? Any idea on the twisted sword leaves?

    Thanks
    Steve

    PS...BBA is all gone......
     
    #1 possum, Feb 7, 2005
  2. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: Dosing Question

    What is your GH?
    Add CaCl2 and MgSO4 or SeaChem Equilibrium?

    You have covered your N, P, K, Traces.......CO2 is in check, no BBA......
    So there's onl;y a few things left.

    The plants sometimes take a few weeks to readjust also, the twisted leaves should stop very soon and start looking nomral or otherwise add some SeaChem EQ or the Ca/Mg mix at a 4:1 ratio to get a GH of 5 or so.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #2 Tom Barr, Feb 8, 2005
  3. possum

    possum Junior Poster

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    Re: Dosing Question

    GH turned out to be 6, KH steady at 5 or 6. Have fairly good growth but miserable color on the red swords. Prior to last dosing the colors were beginning to return on red rubin and kleiner bar swords. After last dosing...3 days ago, red colors are gone and plants are green with the leaves remaining slightly twisted and wrinkled. Red Rubin sword purchased at the same time in a separate tank is a nice reddish brown color. Nitrates remain at around 10 in that tank with only weekly dosing. The tank I am having problems with have a Nitrate reading of around 40 with Phosphate of around 2.0...I am guessing the higher Nitrate levels are effecting colors in swords but am still baffeled by the twisted and wrinkeled sword leaves. thanks...Steve
     
    #3 possum, Feb 12, 2005
  4. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: Dosing Question

    You can reduce the KNO3 dosing down if you wish, 1/2 of what you are using, keep the rest high, add more traces as well.
    Are you using any Mg?

    The GH might be funny in the Ca/Mg ratio, I think that has something to do with the twisted issues.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #4 Tom Barr, Feb 12, 2005
  5. possum

    possum Junior Poster

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    Re: Dosing Question

    I will reduce the KNO3 to 1/2 tsp and the KH2PO4 to 1/8 tsp 4xweek. Curently dosing 20 ml traces 3xweek so will increase to 30 ml 3xweek. I am not adding any Mg other then that contained in the trace mix. I have both Magnesium Sulfate and Liquid Calcium but have used neither....Should I be adding either? thanks...Steve
     
    #5 possum, Feb 13, 2005
  6. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    Re: Dosing Question

    Add a little GH, Ca/Mg at the water changes, it will not hurt and will rule out that issue.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #6 Tom Barr, Feb 13, 2005
  7. possum

    possum Junior Poster

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    Re: Dosing Question

    92 gal corner tank...I did a 50 percent water change on Saturday. Raised the MH lighting another 3 inches and added 1.5 tsp magnesium sulfate,1 tsp liquid calcium, 1/2 tsp KN03 and 1/8 tsp KH2PO4.
    Sunday 40 ml traces & 10 ml iron
    Monday 1/2 tsp KNO3 and 1/8 tsp KH2PO4
    Tuesday 40 ml traces & 10 ml iron
    Wednesday I came home from work and the twisting of the leaves has improved noticeably and the colors of the swords are returning.......:)

    Not sure why things are looking better but am guessing raising the lights didn't hurt. Lighting went from 10 inches above tank to 12 or 13 inches above tank. Additionally I suspect the plants needed more traces and additional iron but I don't know that for sure. Will continue to add magnesium and calcium weekly with water change just in case. A few questions:
    40 mls traces 3x week too much?
    Discontinue additional iron?

    I am not seeing pearling like I used to see prior to making these changes.

    Thanks again...things are looking better.....

    Steve
     
    #7 possum, Feb 16, 2005
  8. fishface

    fishface Guest

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    Re: Dosing Question

    starting to wonder...

    tanks spec.s:
    55g tank w/ 260w lights on 13hrs/day
    ph via test kit (i know) and caliberated sm122 controller - 6.0
    kh-4, gh -120 mg/cac03
    co2 = 120!!?? (fish not bothered that i can tell)
    no3- 25ish
    po4 2-3

    dosing for last 3 weeks or so as follows:
    *sun. wc 1/week- 50- 60%...kn03 6.5gr, kh2po2-.3gr, k2so4-5gr, epsons-15gr, baking soda-8gr
    *mon. trace 12-15ml, iron 10%chelated(g.watson)-2-3ml
    *tues. kn03-1.5gr, kh2po4-.3gr, k2so4-.5gr
    *wed. trace 12-15ml, fe2-3ml
    *thurs. kn03-1.5gr, kh2po4-.3gr, k2so4-.5gr
    *fri. trace 12-15ml, fe2-3ml
    *sat. nothing
    *sunday-start over

    thread algae was never horrid, but slightly, i mean slightly
    tailing off.

    i get pearling, sometimes...but never the rampid growth i keep hearing about.
    just wondering if i'm doing everything right, maybe i'm expecting too much? when i first started it seemed like i didn't really have a clue, but using the pmdd meathod i had non stop growth for a while then kinda tailed off.

    and oh yeah, my glosso and hairgrass seemed to either stop completly and glosso is NOT spreading anymore but more like almost crapping out from the bottom up. oh yeah i've got a flourite/ gravel mix of about 60-40%.

    what does this sound like to you tom? anyone? there seems to be very little uptake for my setup what do you think. might i be doing something blatantly wrong here, feeling a bit frustrated but want to grow killer weeds!! :eek: :confused: :D

    ps what's the probability of a Ca deficientcy here (or too much k)? echinodorus barthii's leaves are starting to show what looks like a "brownish, burn" on leaves and upper stems with a slight marbled translucency...(just shots in the dark)
     
    #8 fishface, Feb 21, 2005
  9. hadog

    hadog Prolific Poster

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    Re: Dosing Question

    Hi
    In part of this thread you mentioned that you changed the postion of your lights...from 10" to 12" why did you do this? Do you think it really made a difference?
     
    #9 hadog, Feb 21, 2005
  10. fishface

    fishface Guest

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    Re: Dosing Question

    can anyone help me out here?? i would greatly appreciate any feedback...
     
    #10 fishface, Feb 25, 2005
  11. fishface

    fishface Guest

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    Re: Dosing Question

    man...this is a tough crowd :(
     
    #11 fishface, Feb 26, 2005
  12. PeterGwee

    PeterGwee Lifetime Charter Member
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    Re: Dosing Question

    Try 3gr of KNO3, 0.3gr of KH2PO4, 14-15ml trace every other day.
    Drop the pH controller (something funny with the probe. calibrate it again and check if there is any stray current affecting the readings.) and use it only for monitoring. Crank the CO2 in only during the day. Get a small stone of riccia and use it as an indicator. Add slowly till you get nice pearling half way through the day or earlier. Watch the critters behaviour when you do this though. Do not overdo it!

    Regards
    Peter Gwee
     
    #12 PeterGwee, Feb 26, 2005
  13. fishface

    fishface Guest

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    Re: Dosing Question

    thanks for the help peter,

    so i have caliberated my probe and verified that it's only got .2sdegree(?) difference from water test kit. as far as riccia, i've got some thats floating, it starts pearling within 1/2 hr of lights on. i've also got some tied to a rock which won't pearl at all...i will try to boost no3 but isn't 25ppm alot already?

    regards
    darryl
     
    #13 fishface, Feb 26, 2005
  14. PeterGwee

    PeterGwee Lifetime Charter Member
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    Re: Dosing Question

    You do not want to trust those junky NO3 kits. Just dose via the EI method (takes care of the nutrients portion). All that is left is CO2 and routine maintenance. Whenever you have an issue, go right after the CO2..since the nutrients (taken care of via EI) and light (pretty consistent..you have loads of it) are good.

    Regards
    Peter Gwee
     
    #14 PeterGwee, Feb 26, 2005
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