EI dosing

[brad]

Hey Tom,

I`ve been doing EI for a while now and for the first time, I`m getting pearling. Here`s what I`ve been dosing a 33 gallon tank with 55 watts of light and pressurized co2 (30ppm):

day 1: 50% wc dose 10ppm nitrate, a pinch (rice grain size) kh2po4
day 2: 5ml Flourish or CSM+b with extra iron
day 3: 5ppm nitrate pinch kh2po4
day 4: 5ml Flourish or CSM+B........
day 5: same as day 3
day 6: same as day 4
day 7: nothing
kh and gh are both 12 so I don`t do anything to adjust that.

I`ve been looking around and I think I`m probably adding way too much micros and possibly po4. I`m still playing with my quantities but if you could give me an idea of where to start if this is way off base.......

I prefer to dose in ppm. I have nothing to measure 1/16 of a teaspoon and stuff so it`s easier for me to dose liquids.

Thanks

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: EI dosing

Sounds about right, you can back off some of the dosing if you desire(not the frequency, just the amounts), main issue you will have will be CO2.

If the intense pearling stops later in the week, CO2, then look at what you had been dosing prior.

You might need to add a bit more CO2 during the day etc.

You can also do more than 50% water change if you really want to amp things and keep the dosing high.

You can also do 2x a week water changes to drive things even higher.

Then you'll have a good idea of what the max growth rates will look like for that light level.

Later you can back off, and slow the growth down some

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[brad]

Re: EI dosing

The stupid ph test kit color chart goes 6.8 - 7.2 then jumps to 7.6. Makes it really hard to target 7.1. I`m relying more on my fish than anything else. I`m just starting EI so I`m still gonna fine tune my tank. I`m sure it`ll all work out.

Thanks.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: EI dosing

Lamoot, ReaSea might make a better kit, or you can use a pH pen, or monitor for more$$ and accuracy.

I'd suggest getting close with the kit and then tweaking it with the plants while watching the fish carefully till you are safe after 2-3 days.

Regards,
Tom Barr