Ppm Levels For Specific Plants? E I Or Ada Dosage?

[rs18alpha]

I've read some articles about growing red plants. They've suggested that lower levels of N helps with keeping the plants red. I know we have to keep an eye on proper CO2 levels and light as well.
I'm not trying to grow Red plants at this point.
When I've tried to grow Red plants in the past the only time they stayed Red is when the light was at full strength. While using the EI dosing amounts that I've listed below. But I did have algae problems, so I put a screen over the light and I think that's why I can't get the red plants to stay Red. Like Rotala H'ra, AR mini.
I would really like to try some Red plants again..
Any ideas?

Next question for lower light plants.
The plants that I have now are various mosses and crypts, microsorum pteropus, java ferns, hygrophila corymbosa, s.p. repens, red root floaters and pennywort as a floater. So I don't need high light, I think??

I use a Twinstar 900s with a screen that's folded over to decrease the intensity, so I thinks it's close to a moderate to high level of light. The lights are on for 6 1/2 hrs.
I have a dimmer that I want to try at the 50% setting.

I use CO2 injection, the CO2 goes through a DIY reactor. Co2 starts 2 hrs before lights on and shuts off 1 1/2 hrs before lights off.

My substrate is Fluval Stratum for the rooted plants, and ADA sand in the foreground.

I don't a heavy plant load at this point, I'd say close to 50% or so.
I do a 50% WC every week.

The plants that I have now aren't fast growers, so I'm wondering if I'm dosing to heavy for my current plants? I don't think I should use the same amounts when trying to have red plants compared to my current plant list??
My ppm levels for the week are N 22.5 - P 3.9 - K 8.08 - fe 0.94 from CSMB+

My tank is 150 liter.

 

[Phishless]

I have only used light to keep red plants red.

Some will swear by adding iron or depriving nitrogen.
These could affect the health of you plants if not paid attention to.

Regarding algae issues, how much CO2 are you injecting?

 

[rs18alpha]

I just did a redo on my tank so I'm not having algae issues at this time.
What size is your tank? How much ppm of each fert are you dosing?
The article that Dennis Wong wrote says he tries to keep the ppm levels in between EI and ADA amounts.
If my figures are correct? In my 40 gal tank I'd like to try per week ppm totals of N 3.45 - P 2.736 - K 18.43 fe 0.522 - mg from csmb and mgso4 4.844

 

[Phishless]

80 gallon tank with no room to add more plants.
Some weeks a double EI dose with extra PO4, if not it gets too low.
This is even with minimal water changes, about 15 gallons per week.
I have no issues with red plants unless I go under 100PAR @ substrate which is the left most quarter of my tank.
Guessing ppm doses per week would be 35ppm NO3, 20ppm K, and 10ppm PO4.
Ca & Mg from GH booster keep tank @ 4 GH and trying to get KH down to 1, only RODI for all tanks.
CSM+B for this tank and I keep .4ppm in the water column @ all times
CO2 I'm guessing between 40-45ppm, haven't measured pH drop in a while.
Was @ 65ppm of CO2 before I got phish. Noticed no benefit with 65 compared to 45ppm of CO2.

Forgot to add I only use capped soil.

 

[rs18alpha]

It's hard to figure this stuff out. One says to dose low N and the other says to dose high N.
My CO2 is around 30ppm? and I always wonder if it should be higher?
I'll have to check my GH and KH
I've been dosing higher fe levels
Question: You say you keep the CSMB at .4 at all times. Do you dose that every day?

One more thing, on the charts for mixing do I go by the NO3 number or the N?

I use Fluval stratum for my root plants.
I use treated tap water.

 

[Phishless]

CSM+b maybe twice per week for me to keep these levels stable.

NO3 is normally the target, unless one is dosing Urea then you would target N.

Capped soil has defeated many normal dosing schedules for me.
One week I fall behind on NO3 and the next it's PO4.

I also test my water.
NO3 & PO4 once per week & Fe once per month just to make sure I'm not depleted anywhere.

 

[rs18alpha]

Ok, if you try to keep the fe at .4 and you dose twice a week. I mix 20 grams csm+b in 250 mil distilled water I would dose 12 mil of that solution to get .41792ppm per dose.

Do you dose macs and mics the same day?

How many times a week do you dose the macs?

To keep a more stable tank is it better to dose macs 6 days a week or just 3 days a week?
I wonder sometimes when I dose macs every other day, if the ferts are getting used up by the plants and then they're waiting for the next dose?

 

[Phishless]

I don't dose both on the same day.

Macro 4-5 times a week.
Some weeks are strange needing extra PO4.
Has to be the soil in these tanks.

If you think they are getting used up before next dose test water for NO3 & PO4 for a few days in a row.
Get an idea what's being consumed.
Then adjust accordingly.
Every tank is so different.

 

[Phishless]

Regarding the Fe.
Recently got a small Hanna meter for this.
Seems like my tank uses about .15ppm of Fe per week.
My dosing then is about .55 per week.
I'm sure the soil is providing some Fe but it is an unknown.

 

[rs18alpha]

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Phishless]

I hope it was helpful?
Just an example of where I'm at right now.
All could be subject to change.

 

[rs18alpha]

Since I'm good to go with the ferts now, I have a question about CO2.
In the past few days I'm not seeing as much pearling as I did last week. Is there any reason that would happen?

My CO2 levels have been consistent 30ppm. The only thing that's changed is I did add some fish and some new substrate in the past week. I also bumped up the CO2 a few days ago but I haven't checked if the ppm levels have gone up.

Any ideas??