EI Dosing and Algae

[marilyn1998]

Background:
90 gallon setup with plants for 4 months. Changed to SoilMaster Select 2 weeks ago.
Temp 85
PH 6.8
Ammonia .25
NitrIte 0
NitrAte 30ppm
Gh 7
Kh 3
Phosphates 5.0
Iron negligable
Lighting 130W (1.5 wpg) compact
Filtration Aqua Clear 110 and Xp3 Filstar
9W UV runs 24/7

Fish: 8 adult discus, 12 cardinals, 3 rams, 3 bushynose plecos
Plants: moderately planted Water Sprite, Annubias Nana, E.Ozelot, Ludwigia Repens, E.Bleheri, E.Osiris, Red Lotus, Italian Val, Hygro, Crypt Wendtii

I dose EI: 1/16th tsp- 1/8th tsp Greg Watson PMDD and 2 caps Excel 6 days a week. On WC day, no ferts and 50% WC.

My plants are growing great. But my val is melting away and my swords are getting pinholes. The old leaves are getting transparent from the edges inward. I read it is a potassium deficiency. A week ago I added a one time dose of 1/4 tsp KNO3 and 1/8 tsp KH2PO4 and got GDA and some GSA on the upper leaves of my repens. Didnt seem to do anything for the swords.

What should I change? OR add?

 

[quenton]

Re: EI Dosing and Algae

You want to aim for consistency, which is probably why your added phosphate and K kicked in some algae.

I would skip the PMDD and go with the separate ferts and then you can control them.

Assuming your 90g has about 80g of water, I would be dosing as follows, on alternate days, 3x a week:

1tsp KNO3
3/8tsp K2SO4
1/4tsp KH2PO4
1/2tsp to 2.5tsp MgSO4 (depending on what you start with, mine starts at 8ppm)
20ml TMG (for traces) (or 3/8tsp CSM+B)

I don't have the exact formula for PMDD, but I think what you are dosing is much less than what you need using EI.

 

[marilyn1998]

Re: EI Dosing and Algae

Thanks Quenton! I have all those so I will start tomorrow as I did the WC today. Is 2 caps excel still a good amount?? Now I am doing every day.
Please help with the excel on this schedule.

Thanks!! I now wish I paid more attention in math and science.

 

[quenton]

Re: EI Dosing and Algae

The first question I should have asked was "are you adding CO2"? (other than Excel). If not, on a tank that size, you may have some issues, and you may want to drop the nutrients a little bit (not sure how much or even if).

The other thing I did not notice was your lighting. With the low light you have (1.5wpg) and if you are not adding CO2, you are really in a non-EI situation, in which case you will want to drop the nutrients quite a bit -- perhaps to almost nothing.

You might want to read (if you have not already) tom's two articles:

EI Light for the less technical
Non-CO2 methods

You will find them in the side-bar (right hand side) of the home page.

Then decide which you want to be in and aim for that with nutrients, light etc.

Re Excel dosing, assuming you do continue to use excel, about 2 capfuls daily should be fine -- every other day if your fish show any problems or if you want to keep Anacharus -- it has a problem with excel.