EI and Prime

[Dmaaaaax]

Hi all, I am new here and just started to dose using the EI method!

I use Prime during a water change, but also dose KNO3 (potassium nitrate). Prime from Seachem states that it removes chlorine and chloramine, and detoxifies nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia. Is it still in a state that my plants can readily take up or does Prime affect the nitrate negatively?

Typically I use a python setup to fill a 20g rubbermaid trash can with tap water. Then I treat the tap with prime, KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4. Then I cycle it with an underwater pump for about 5min before pumping into my tank.

Also a question about GH. I see that most of you all use GH boost with each water change, but due to natural evaporation my GH never seems to go down. It is at 4.5 degrees in my tank and my tap is 2.0, I do a water change weekly and do not add GH booster, or equilibrium, and my tank remains at 4.5. Is it due to the flourite or because I used to use flourish (which has small ammounts of Ca and other metals)?

 

[Dmaaaaax]

One other question: Lighting. I see Tom mentions that lighting is the number one factor to consider when deciding how much CO2 you need and how to dose.

Below is what I have:
75 g tank
CO2 ~22ppm
EI dosing (3x week)+ Excel (daily)
kH 4-5
GH 4-5
pH 6.4

I currently have 2 Nova T5s that have 1 10k bulb and 1 "freshwater" bulb. Each bulb is 54w for a total of 216w. They are mounted about 4" above the tank. This comes to about 2.8w/gallon. Is that ok?...too much? Can I add more?

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

I and many other use Prime and also dose EI and the nutrients you mention on the same day with no apparent issues.

We usually add enough Prime to equal the tank volume, which is normally double the dosage. I do this for a 90 gal volume weekly water change and have no issues with loss of N... I tend to dose about 2x EI..........

Your lighting seems on the high side, so no need to add more unless you want to. This will drive plant growth and nutrient/c02 demand. You can always mount and raise/lower the fixture to allow adjustment and experiment to get the growth rates you want.

I would recommend you rasing it another 4-6" with no issues. T5 are good fixtures and provide nice light and you will have plenty for anything you want to grow......

BTW, how are you determining your 22 ppm c02 content?

 

[SuperColey1]

I'm with Gerry. Thats a lot of light over a largish tank. And close to the surface too!!!

I assume you have tested the GH/KH/PH and taken the reading off the chart to come to 22ppm!!! I'll let Gerry deal with that one because I'm off to bed now

AC

 

[Dmaaaaax]

I'm with Gerry. Thats a lot of light over a largish tank. And close to the surface too!!!

I assume you have tested the GH/KH/PH and taken the reading off the chart to come to 22ppm!!! I'll let Gerry deal with that one because I'm off to bed now

AC

If you mean the kH/pH chart on every plant forum, then no...I do not use that chart because it seems to be very inaccurate. According to the chart my CO2 is ~50ppm! I use the Red Sea CO2 test kit and a drop checker. It reads ~22ppm CO2 and the drop checker goes from blue to a green/yellow. My pH is measured with a Red Sea kit and confirmed with a pH meter.


BTW, why is my post midway down the forum page below much older posts? Is it not reading 2009 correctly?