Hi
Here are some brief details of my setup. I have planted 200L tank with CO2 injection, a pH-stat system, pH=6.50, dKH=2-3 (=> CO2 ~ 20-30ppm) and about 120W of fluro illumination via double ballast overdrive of T8's.
I keep about 30 small fish + 2 Discus. Up until now I have been doing things the "standard" way with the aim of reducing PO4 & NO3 by adding plenty of Trace (Flourish) + extra iron + extra K2SO4, and a 25% change every 2 weeks. The plants are doing OK-ish, the fish are doing great and the NO3 and PO4 levels are zero to low. No problems with algae since adding plenty of the ferts described above.
I haven't been measuring or doing anything about the GH. I wanted it low for the Discus, and Sydney has very soft tap water.
What I have read here is a real eye-opener - basically I am getting the NO3 & PO4 down by starving my plants. The whole EI method appeals to me much more than what I am doing now.
My one reservation is how will the Discus go with up to 30ppm NO3, and with me adding Ca + Mg to raise the GH? From everything I can find, Discus like very soft water with very low nitrates. Has anyone used EI with Discus, and how did the fish go with it?
Thanks
Tim
Here are some brief details of my setup. I have planted 200L tank with CO2 injection, a pH-stat system, pH=6.50, dKH=2-3 (=> CO2 ~ 20-30ppm) and about 120W of fluro illumination via double ballast overdrive of T8's.
I keep about 30 small fish + 2 Discus. Up until now I have been doing things the "standard" way with the aim of reducing PO4 & NO3 by adding plenty of Trace (Flourish) + extra iron + extra K2SO4, and a 25% change every 2 weeks. The plants are doing OK-ish, the fish are doing great and the NO3 and PO4 levels are zero to low. No problems with algae since adding plenty of the ferts described above.
I haven't been measuring or doing anything about the GH. I wanted it low for the Discus, and Sydney has very soft tap water.
What I have read here is a real eye-opener - basically I am getting the NO3 & PO4 down by starving my plants. The whole EI method appeals to me much more than what I am doing now.
My one reservation is how will the Discus go with up to 30ppm NO3, and with me adding Ca + Mg to raise the GH? From everything I can find, Discus like very soft water with very low nitrates. Has anyone used EI with Discus, and how did the fish go with it?
Thanks
Tim