no3 cnsumption as tool for TMG dosing

[yme]

hi,

just another question...

I still observe that the conductivity of my( tank is a bit high and is increasing during the week. In an attempt to get a grip on the things, I measured very carefully the NO3 levels. (I froze every other day a water sample for 2 weeks). It turns out that the tank uses about 0.5 mg/l NO3 per day.

I was wondering whether I could use this observation to extrapolate the how much traces I should dose (attempt: could I cut down on traces to get a lower conductivity?)

0.5 mg/l NO3 per day is quite moderae consumption, I imagine. do I really need my 7.5 ml TMG per day in my 90 gallon tank, or could I lower the trace dosage?

greets

yme

 

[Biollante]

Bacteria Poop?

Hi,

I am not sure Nitrate use can be extrapolated to other micro or macronutrients since our fish and plants produce useable Nitrogen. :gw

Biollante

 

[yme]

owh yeh. forgot to write down:
I have only 5 flagfish, 1 SAE, a couple op oto's. I almost never feed them. During the "experiment" they were not fed at all.

So my guess would be that the extrapolation is more accurate than in tanks with more fish.

greets,

yme

 

[Biollante]

Detritus Mulm

Hi yme,

Fewer fish, no food, I suppose is better…

I have found tracking Nitrogen to be frustrating at best, even without fish there are plenty of other sources, down to the little critters that help fix the Nitrogen, the plants themselves, the mulm, the detritus of life.

Heck in Canada you end up with Detritus Mulm.

I seriously believe the best proxy for micronutrients is iron.

Good luck my friend,
Biollante

 

[Wet]

I think using N consumption as the proxy for uptake rates is smart, since it is the largest macro that's easiest to measure (vs CO2). I'd suggest using this to watch trends more than your micro targets though; smarter is to take the next step and use plants to drive the dosing. I think shades of green in HM is a good Fe indicator for example. Mayaca sp., R. wallichii, etc are preferred by many, too. If you'd like to limit excess for whatever reason, your goal is to dose just enough that new growth on those guys still look good, and adjust when/if uptake changes.

 

[Biollante]

Then Being A Nutrient Type I Have Never Cut My Dosing All That Close

Hi yme, Wet,

Still don't buy it at least in mature tanks, but have fun.

I am interested in how it goes. :gw

Biollante

 

[Wet]

But Plant Monster, truly mature tanks have plants so resilient they are a different ballgame. To break them humans must completely fail by not feeding the plants. But still in a mature tank the excess between (just an example) +2ppm NO3 and +10ppm NO3 (and the water changes to control those levels) may be too expensive vs plant monster health for the environmentally-minded human.

 

[Biollante]

No Coherent Central Nervous System Ergo No Brain Makes It Easy To Smile All The Time

But Plant Monster, truly mature tanks have plants so resilient they are a different ballgame. To break them humans must completely fail by not feeding the plants. But still in a mature tank the excess between (just an example) +2ppm NO3 and +10ppm NO3 (and the water changes to control those levels) may be too expensive vs plant monster health for the environmentally-minded human.

Hi Wet,

Obviously you are the expert, :gw I, but a poor 300 foot tall potted plant, lacking a coherent central nervous system.

I understand the expense argument… Maybe the environmental argument…

• I am not questioning any motives or the goodness of intention.

I am not convinced that NO3 as a proxy for all nutrients actually accomplishes the stated goals.

Have a great day, my brainy friend, nice opposable thumbs, by the way.

Biollante