ferts when many water changes

Patrice

Guru Class Expert
Jan 6, 2006
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hi,
some time, it's good to make good water changes everyday for a couple days. when doing this, how do I manage my ferts routine? do i still add ferts as I would do if no water changes?
per exemple, yesterday, i have made a big mistake on dosing a kh booster solution (10x what I wanted). so I did a 50% water change immediatly and an other this morning. yesterday i have dose trace in the morning (before water change) and today i have dose macros (after water change cause i knew i was gona do that water change). After those 2 water changes, i wonder if there is still enough trace in that tank.
 

Tom Barr

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Jan 23, 2005
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You can do a few things that seem to make sense.

1. Do the same routine as EI, you will remove more of the nutrients, so if you add 10ppm each time, 3-4x a week. The tank will be nearly out for a day, that's fine, out for 2-3 days? Not good unless it's a lower light tank etc.
It's not just NO3, it might be PO4 or K as well.

2. So the other option is dose after the water change each time.

3. Mega dosing. This means you double the dose after the water change, then remove it, then follow it up with another after the following water change.

I used mega dosing to see how I might fatten up a tank and did this due to initial fears with higher dosing levels. I dosed extrra ferts, the 24 hour peroid before a large water change.

Then back to normal water changes/dosing etc till the day prior to the water change, the idea is to keep the mega dosing time frame before the next water change in 24 hour of less time blocks.

12 hours is even better.

Ferts are cheap, you can fatten a tank up and then back off.
The plants now have good reserves.

So you could mega dose right before, say 12-24 hour before you start the series of water changes, then dose normally there after.

You could also dose after each water change (this works very well if you plan on daily WC's).

That is actually one of the best most stable methods available to maintain good conditions for planted tanks, but...it's a lot of work.

It's good to do 2-3x water changes per week before you do a photo shoot/contest etc. 3x is ideal and dose thereafter.

Do that for the last 2-3 weeks before a shoot and prune often and carefully. Keep all glass clean and equipment/filter etc.

Really stay on top of it.
This will whip a tank into shape very well.

And it's a lot of work.
Did I say it's work? :D

Many think that growing perfection in a scape is all design and should be effortless.

Ha! It's work.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Patrice

Guru Class Expert
Jan 6, 2006
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great thx for the responce.

maybe you should say how mutch work it is to WC that mutch :D

regards,

Pat
 

Tom Barr

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Jan 23, 2005
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Patrice;12775 said:
great thx for the responce.

maybe you should say how mutch work it is to WC that mutch :D

regards,

Pat

Try it a few times and see.
It's actually quite effective.

Regards,
Tom Barr