EI Dosing Opinion

[imatrout]

Here's the EI dosing regime I implemented. I'd appreciate if you all think this looks right:

Tank: 150 gal. dosed as 130 gallons of water
Light: 4X 96 watt PC (2.56 wpg)
Photo Period: 14 hr at 2 X 96 watts and 5 hrs at 4 X 96 watts
KH = 16
Ph = 7.3
CO2 = 24 ppm



KNO3 = 1.5 tsp 4x per week
KH2SO4 = .48 4x per week
MGSO4 = .48 1X per week at water change

Flourish = per instructions
Flourish Iron = per instruction
Flourish Excel= per instruction

Am I on the right track?

Thanks all!

 

[Vladimir Zhurov]

Re: EI Dosing Opinion

imatrout,

I noticed that your CO2 concentration is calculated based on KH and pH. Or is it just a coincident and you have measured it in some other way?
What I am suggesting is a) are you sure about your 24 ppm of CO2? b) what is pH of water when you do NOT inject it?

Other than that why do you do not add any phosphate?

Using Excel on such a big tank is quite costly (from my point of view, of course) and you should be good with just CO2 injection.

Regards.

Vladimir.

 

[imatrout]

Re: EI Dosing Opinion

Thanks Vladimir!

My Ph out of the tank is 8.1 and the CO2 injection causes it to drop to 7.2 -7.3.

I don't add phosphates because I have a moderate to heavy fish and feeing load that adds phosphates...I hope enough. Oh and by the way, my tank is medium to heavily planted. That is, I've stocked the tank wiyh lots of plants and when the plants grow, it will be very heavily planted.

Thanks again

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: EI Dosing Opinion

No, you do not have enough PO4. Fish food alone will not add enough.

Add KH2PO4.
Like an 1/4 teaspoon 4x aweek.

K2SO4 can be added, I'd add it only after a water change, but if you are adding KNO3.........you do not need it.

MgSO4, add only after a water change, a teaspoon should be fine.

I'd suggest lowering the KNO3 dosing to 1 teaspoon 4x a week since the fish load is high.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[imatrout]

Re: EI Dosing Opinion

Sorry,

Got my chemistry wrong. I am already adding KH2PO4, not KH2SO4.

 

[imatrout]

Re: EI Dosing Opinion

I've adjusted down per your recommendation. I will resit the urge to use a test kit all week until water change!

Thanks All!

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: EI Dosing Opinion

It's fine to test all week, just be careful what conclusions you draw and to run the test out all the way through.

Regards,
Tom Barr