Newbie To High Tech. Need Someone To Review My Method For Peace Of Mind Before I Start This Tank.

I am in the process of setting up my first high tech tank and I have a bunch of questions about water and fertilizing. My setup will be a heavily planted 55 gallon forest style tank. I plan to run CO2, RO water (I live in LA with liquid rock water) and 2x current satellite pro + lights. I successfully ran heavily planted low tech tanks with very little need of fertilizers so this is all new to me. The more I read about it, the more I am starting to get confused so I just want to put something on paper and take it from there. The tank will go up in about a month so I got some time to figure this out.


Fertilizing

I figured I’d go with E.I. and calculate the dosing based on perhaps 45 instal of 55 gallons due to rocks, wood and substrate. If I do that, are my calculations correct? Also, I will run ADA Aquasoil. Do I start the regime right away or should I wait a few weeks?


KNO per rotala calculator:

To reach your target of 7.5ppm NO3 you will need to add 520.78 grams (equivalent to 25 tbsp + 1 tsp + 1/2 tsp + 1/16 tsp + 1/64 tsp ) of KNO3 to your 500mL dosing container. Add 2mL of that mix to your 45gal aquarium to yield:

Element

ppm/degree

NO3

7.5

N

1.69

K

4.73




KH2PO4:

To reach your target of 1.3ppm PO4 you will need to add 79.33 grams (equivalent to 4 tbsp + 2 tsp + 1/8 tsp + 1/32 tsp ) of KH2PO4 to your 500mL dosing container. Add 2mL of that mix to your 45gal aquarium to yield:

Element

ppm/degree

PO4

1.3

P

0.42

K

0.54


CSM+B

To reach your target of 0.2ppm Fe you will need to add 100.2 grams (equivalent to 7 tbsp + 2 tsp + 1/4 tsp + 1/32 tsp + 1/64 tsp ) of CSM - CHELATED SECONDARY MICRONUTRIENTS to your 500mL dosing container. Add 2mL of that mix to your 45gal aquarium to yield:

Element

ppm/degree

Fe

0.2

B

0.035

Mn

0.057

Mo

0.002

Zn

0.011

Cu

0.003



I dose 3x a week the macros and 3x a week the micros? I am aware this is just a jump off point and I will calibrate these dosings as I watch my plants grow. I’ve also followed the custom micro mix thread on planted tank so I am now unsure if CSM+B is the right way to go for me. I also plan to add 10ml of excel to the micro solution to avoid mold. Is that the correct approach?


RO water: this is where I get slightly confused. I will use mostly ADA substrate so the KH will be close to 0 I assume due to buffering. is there a GH I should aim for? I figured I’d use Seachem Equilibrium to get there but I also read Salty Bee would be a good alternative. Should I even attempt to raise the KH? What else do I need to add to the water besides the GH boosters? I’ll have an apex with PH probes to keep monitoring the swings so I guess I will have some time to figure this out and how much CO2 I will need until I add fish to the tank.


Anyway, any insight and comments appreciated. Eventually I plan to dial in the tank for 1 water change every two weeks but for now I’ll start with the old school 50% a week method.

thanks!

 

I realized that dosing 2ml is a bit difficult mix wise so I'd adjust to 10-15ml doses per day for a heavier diluted solution.

 

Thanks Burr. So Equilibrium would be a decent enough choice as a gh booster if I'd go with a premix?

 

Yea, do you recommend daily water changes the first week with a brand new tank and ADA?