Ferts/Non CO2 Tank

[jonathan11]

I have a 15 gallon, flourite substrate, 1.5-2 watt/gallon tank. My question has to do with ferts to be added. To assure healthy plant growth FIRST, I would like to use ferts and Flourish Excel to assist plant growth, even water changes, if necessary. What would be the proper amount of potassium nitrate and phosphate to be added to the tank? And what amount (mls) and times a week should Excel be added? Is it better to add ferts 2x a week, or 3x? Does this added frequency (3x) require additional Excel, and if so, how much? What about the addition of micros, CSM+B (1tsp/167mls)- should this be added, and at what frequency? Would a periodic water change be required, and if so, what frequency and quantity would be needed? After using EI, and experiencing the fantastic plant growth, I'm a little hesitant now to underdose, and bring on algae, etc. I would rather put in a little more nutrients and work initially than have to combat algae due to poor plant growth. :gw

 

[chubasco]

Re: Ferts/Non CO2 Tank

I dose excel in my 15s every day: 1.5-2ml a day. I dose macros and micros
twice weekly: starting on Sunday with WC is macros, then Monday, micros,
skip Tue-Wed, Thur-macros, Fri-micros, skip Saturday, then back to WC
Sunday with macros. Just started using Flourish and I like what I'm seeing....

Bill

ps forgot to add that on WC day I dose 8ml Excel.

 

[jonathan11]

Re: Ferts/Non CO2 Tank

Bill- What quantity (mls) of macros and micros do you dose? Is it always the same, no difference whether it's W/C day or not? Is your W/C 50%? How much and when do you use Flourish? Thx for the reply!!! :gw

Walter

 

[Laith]

Re: Ferts/Non CO2 Tank

Bill, is your fert routine is based on a CO2 injected tank? How much light?

If it is CO2 injected and high light, then I wouldn't use the same routine with a low/medium light non CO2 tank...

 

[chubasco]

Re: Ferts/Non CO2 Tank

My lighting is just (2) 13w cf on the 15s, which is why I only fert twice
weekly macros/micros. I do WCs on Sunday mainly to rid the tops of the
tanks the scum that forms from the Excel. I've changed from 50% to maybe
20-30%, depending on how trashy the bottoms of the tanks are. I dose
Flourish 1-2mls on micro days, and 1/32 to 1/16tsp KNO3 and 1/64tsp KH2PO4
(about 1/2 of this, so 1/128tsp which gives me good results with the
tapwater I have. On WC days I also dose CaCl2 and MgSO4, sparingly: 2-3
small chunks to 1-2 crystals correspondingly, but probably don't need to
judging from my combined hardness of 14. I used to use a scale to measure
dry ferts, but in realworld terms when you have to get ready for work in the
morning (which is when I like to dose both ferts and excel), this works for me.

Bill

 

[jonathan11]

Re: Ferts/Non CO2 Tank

Bill, thanks for the reply. I do have a couple of questions, I don't want to be a pain, but I was wondering. Do you dose 1.5-2.0 mls Excel on your off days (3&4)? Also, on the micros, do you dose twice a week 1/128 tsp of KH2PO4 for a total of 1/64 KH2PO4 per week? Do you also dose 1/32 to 1/16 KNO3 twice a week for a weekly total of 1/16 to 1/8 tsp per week? Trying to establish a baseline here, and out tanks are similar. Have noticed a n improvement in plant growth since I began the regimen. Also, from personal experience, how do you like the Flourish as opposed to CSM+B? Been using CSM, and can't complain, but I'm open to any suggestions if there is visible evidence that Flourish may work better. :gw

 

[chubasco]

Re: Ferts/Non CO2 Tank

Walter, that's a "yes" to all the tsp/fert questions. I've been dosing 3 times
weekly with Flourish on days of no macros. There's a lot of stuff in Flourish
and some of my plants are responding better to it than what I was using
before. I also like TMG and need to order some more from Bigalsonline. The
Excel I dose every day 1-2ml and on WC days it is 8ml (or more) on the 15s
and 5-6mls on the 10s. As I said before, this is what works with the tapwater
I have: GH-8, KH-6, TDS-175, PH-7.5

HTH,

Bill