new EI question

[darren_in_the_marsh]

hello,

i just started ei friday (and joined here as well), and wanted to know if on this website there is a more procedure oriented document that basically will 'hold my hand' for the next couple of weeks. i have thoroughly read the free report, just thot that tom outlined something more specific for members.

i guess i shouldnt make things more complicated than they are, but i d/l chucks nutr calc, figured exactly how many teasp of each macro would get my tank to the optimum level, then divided that amount by four (4x a week, right?) and voila!

having a bit more difficulty with traces, as i have a small dumptruck load of plantex, so was hoping to use it, but i am guestimating 0.15g week - divided into three doses, and now i have my dosing regime.

thx darren

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: new EI question

CO2 is most often the issue for most new folks.
You can read about that shortly in the report.
I'd suggest focusing on that.

Much like dosing to excess, CO2 is done in a similar fashion.
It is possible to maintain a low but stable CO2 level without issues, but it's much more difficult for folks in general.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[darren_in_the_marsh]

Re: new EI question

my milwaukee ph meter is out of batteries right now, but from counting bubbles in my eheim diffuser (i have spent hours counting bubbles over the years), i bet my [co2] is about ~50ppm based on a KH of 6. i measured my tap water at barely 2 dKH (tetra kit), and therefore condition it with baking soda to raise it up.

i am out of phospates right know, so i suspect the only significant buffer right now is the bicarbonate one.

thx, darren

ps so there is no addition posted formal EI information other that what is in the 'free' report?

pss what is the rec. dosage in ml for Fleet Enema as a phoshate source within the EI context, particularly for a 29g ??

 

[ervis]

Re: new EI question

LOL! I too, really wanted a chart or matrix that showed just how much of what and when for dosing. I was hesitant, after using Chuck's calculator, to just start dumping in the chemistry set. And I really had to laugh when Tom answered your post with some knowledge about C02! Don't get me wrong, Tom put me on the path to success and when I don't stray, I get fabulous results. I'm sure he doesn't have time to lay out a mistake proof plan for each of us though, and sometimes his writing style is a bit cryptic.

Sounds to me like you have a grasp of the concept, I'd say go for it. I'm not sure about the fleet enema, I use KH2P04 for my phosphate source.

steve
http://aquaria.info/members/ervis/

 

[turbomkt]

Re: new EI question

To figure out how much of what will get you a particular concentration, there is Chuck Gadd's calculator, the fertilator on www.aquaticplantcentral.com, and I hit this site .

--Mike

 

[matpat]

Re: new EI question

Here is some info I got a while back on calculating Fleet enema dosage.

1ml of fleets will raise the PO4 levels to 1.33ppm in a 100L tank. A 29g tank is approximately 110L (29g X 3.8L = 110.2) so 1ml of fleets should add about 1.2ppm of PO4 (1.33/1.10 = 1.21).

This would be based on tank size, not actual gallons of water in the tank. Though I don't think this really matters too much.