EI: Algae still persistant, plant growth improving

I'm not sure if I need help or not. I started the EI regimen some three weeks ago and my algae is still horrible. However last night when I cleaned the glass of a heavy layer of sheet algae with some GSA underneath, I found that my plants were doing much better. The slower growing ferns/crypts/anubias are still covered with BBA and hair algae, including new growth; but the faster growing species are doing much better.

At what point do the plants start outcompeting? How long should it take for the algae to die away?


Hardware:
120gal, Metal Halide 175W X2, dual Eheim 2228, CO2 with an external reactor. Lights on 10hrs/day, airstone at night. RO+tapwater mix for 7.3pH, 4° KH sits for ~5days before WC, temps usually 77-80°F

BioMass:
Moderately heavy planted, med-high fishload. Many new plants added last week with some more coming today. Fishload was significantly increased a few days ago. I'm getting ready to move into a 215gal, and got the fish because the LFS had an awesome sale and I'm impatient.

Chemistry:
I lost an Apisto to what appeared to be dropsy. He began looking bad over the past week or so, just before adding the new stock. Last night I broke out the chemistry set.
ph 6.3
KH 6°
CO2 at 90ppm, but fish are fine
GH 7°
NH3/NH4 0mg/l
NO2 >.3mg/l
NO3 75mg/l (Tetra test kit)
NO3 5mg/l (Hagen test kit)
PO4 >5mg/l (Hagen test kit)
The only thing I learned from the tests only confirmed what I already knew-- I don't like/trust testing! Look at the difference in the two NO3 readings for example. All of my test kits are pretty old.

Dosing Regimen:
Sa 50%Water Change
1.5tsp KN03, .25tsp KH2PO4, 30ml Tropica, 5ml Flourish Fe.
Su, Mo, We
1.5tsp KNO3, .24tsp KH2PO4
Tu, Th
30ml Tropica, 5ml Flourish Fe
Fr
none


Am I dosing too much/little? Should I increase water changes temporarily until moving into the larger tank?

thanks for reading,
Isaac

 

Re: EI: Algae still persistant, plant growth improving

You haven't heard much about Metal Halide? Guess the expense keeps some away, but they are very effective! This is especially true at greater depths, such as >18". I've got a pair of the old IceCAP pendants, black square-ish things. Not the most attractive but not too bad either. In my larger aquarium I'm going to incorporate three of them into a full hood to hang over the aquarium.
Gives great light. Expensive to operate (electricity) and lots of heat is produced (more electricity to cool the house down), but it's worth it in my opinion!

Thanks for the advice on the dosing. I guess I'll keep it up, minus the Fe and traces at water changes.
Isaac

 

Re: EI: Algae still persistant, plant growth improving

OOPS! I just realized I put tsp instead of tbsp for the KNO3...
Also increased the PO4 and Fe. Plants were not as red as I'd like.


Dosing Regimen:
Sa 50% Water Change 1.5tbsp KN03, .5tsp KH2PO4
Su, Mo, We 1.5tbsp KNO3, .5tsp KH2PO4
Tu, Th 30ml Tropica, 10ml Flourish Fe
Fr none

too much KNO3? Plants are really growing well. Plant biomass is high now, since my AquariumPlants.com order came in a few days ago.



Isaac