My fert schedule

[alexv]

After battling algae problems for a few years I ended up once again cleaning the whole tank and replanting it. I just got a dosing pump to help doze fertilizers at regular intervals so I don't miss it...

I wanted to run my dosing schedule by some of more experienced planted tank owners to see whether I'm in a ballpark with my parameters.

So, it's a 220 gallon tank in my living room with a 40 gallon sump in the basement. The total water volume of the system I estimated to be 210 gallons (800 litres). It is running on a constant water change (drip system) with flow of 1 gallon per hour.

Right now I'm doing the ferts twice a day each with a staggered schedule so that not to doze CSM and KH₂PO₄ at the same time.

On average I'm adding per week:

CSM+B: 1 tsp
KNO₃: 3 tsp
MgSO₄: 3 tsp
K₂SO₄: 2 tsp
KH₂PO₄: 1/4 tsp

My light is 640W T5HO (8x80W) but the bulbs are somewhat old, so it's not as strong as could be

Pressurized CO2 injection, controlled by pH controller and verified by 4dKH drop checker.

Tap water pH = 8.0, tank pH = 6.6, temperature 26°C, hardness: KH = 4°, GH = 6°

Right now the tank isn't very heavily planted.

My concerns is Fe/CSM dosing. I dozed 1 tsp of CSM (7% Fe) two days ago (before starting the dosing pump) and the Fe test kit showed ~0.1 ppm Fe. Today I tested and it shows 0, even with my (small regular) dosing of CSM. My water change system replaces about 10% of old water a day (according to this: http://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectiveWaterChange.php), so it's not because of water changes. Could my plant have consumed 3.5 g of CSM in just two days?

My NO₃ is currently at about 20 ppm and PO₄ is about 1 ppm.

By the way, in case someone finds this useful. I have weighed different quantities of dry ferts using digital scales and culinary measuring spoons, so 1 tsp comes down to the following:

MgSO₄·7H₂O = 5.5g
KNO₃ = 6 g
K₂SO₄ = 6.3 g
Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O = 5.9 g
KH₂PO₄ = 6.7 g
CSM+B = 3.4 g

[exv152]

Hey Alex, Do you have any pictures of your setup? I'd love to see a 220 planted tank.  

My first impression is you're under dosing because you're replacing just over 50% of the water weekly but you're not following an EI type of regimen. Two indicators of nutrient deficiency are the low iron, ideally you want Fe 0.2-0.5ppm and PO4 to be 1.0-3.0 ppm. If you were doing EI, I'd recommend :

•   2½-3 teaspoons KNO3 3-4x a week
•   5/8 - 1 teaspoon KH2PO4 3-4x a week
•   trace 50-60 ml 3x a week

Increasing the CO2 is also not a bad idea, the drop checkers, even with the proper 4ºdkh solution are only accurate between 15ppm - 45ppm approximately, so it's not an exact science. A reactor on the output side of the sump is probably the best method of diffusion for a tank that size. I hope other planted tank folks will also chime-in.

[daworldisblack]

I want to see pics as well Alex!

[alexv]

I want to see pics as well Alex!

Ok, here it goes... There isn't anything special, since I had to prune a lot of plants damaged by algae. I had a real problem with staghorn algae, so I had to throw away lots of plans and leaves...

So far, a week later, the tank seem to be holding up much better. No real problem with algae yet. That's a first...

[alexv]

Maybe I should host the next plantaholics anonymous meeting? This way you can see my setup first hand. And maybe I can pick your brains a bit too

[alexv]

Here is my basement sump/filter set-up...

You can see the 3 dosing pumps on the top shelf with fert solutions below, CO2 reactor, phController, temperature controller, UV lamp, main pump, inlet 3-stage water filter for drip system and the actual sump with filter media, bioballs, etc.

[alexv]

•   2½-3 teaspoons KNO3 3-4x a week
•   5/8 - 1 teaspoon KH2PO4 3-4x a week
•   trace 50-60 ml 3x a week

1 tsp of KH2PO4 4 times a week? So, that's 3-4 tsp a month. Is that right?

And 50-60 ml of trace, which concentration? I'm using dry fertilizers (trace element mix from B&B), how do you make your solution?

[wolfiewill]

Try running your fertilizer quantities on the 'fertilator' -http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/fertilator.php)

or perhaps on the petalphile - http://ei.petalphile.com.

Also, the Tom Barr site on fert dosing -  http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2386-old-version-from-1996-1997-of-list-of-levels-and-parameters
or - http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2819-EI-light-for-those-less-techy-folks.

Also, I'm a big fan of UKAPS so try getting into their forum at http://www.ukaps.org. There just seems to be so much more info for us plant geeks on that site.

As for your lighting, take a look at this site - http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Tech/Lighting. It suggests lighting levels for successful tanks decrease as volume increases. Cheers. G

[alexv]

By the way, just replaced my ageing T5HO bulbs. And measured the light output of the old vs new bulbs using a light meter. The old ones gave only about 60% of the new bulbs.

[exv152]

1 tsp of KH2PO4 4 times a week? So, that's 3-4 tsp a month. Is that right?

And 50-60 ml of trace, which concentration? I'm using dry fertilizers (trace element mix from B&B), how do you make your solution?

I also use the B&B stuff and I mix 1 tablespoon of plantex csm+b into 250ml of water, or if you want to dose dry into a 220g, I think it works out to about 1 teaspoon dry.  Same thing with KH2PO4, for a 220g you want to dose about the same dry (1 teaspoon x 3 per week). These are EI doses.  Nice tank btw.

[daworldisblack]

Woah.. you are not messing around! Thats some sweet set up you got there alex! I was looking to get a new mix done for my  dry ferts as well. had done PPS Pro till now but I have gone with EI daily dosing thanks to the help form the links posted here so just piggybacking off your thread Thanks!

[wolfiewill]

The  http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Tech/Lighting site suggests that lighting for a 210 usg tank should be nearer to the 1 w/g range. Maybe you've got too much light?

[alexv]

The  http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Tech/Lighting site suggests that lighting for a 210 usg tank should be nearer to the 1 w/g range. Maybe you've got too much light?

Not sure about that. I'm still puzzled by my diatom outbreak a few months ago. In fact, after replacing my light bulbs I finally noticed some pearling on the plants. Before that, I didn't have any. But that could also be due to my dosing more of ferts now.

I guess I'll have to watch closely and see if it works out.

Oh, and I started dosing Flourish Excel to supplement the carbon. I just can't get any more CO2 in my water with the overflow and sump and such.

[exv152]

...But that could also be due to my dosing more of ferts now...

In my amateur experience, it most likely is.

[alexv]

Here is an update. I do have some algae growing back, but not too bad. Compared to what it was before, it's night and day. The dozing pump does help to stay regular with fertilization

[charlie]

looking great, good to hear you are winning the battle.
See you soon.
Errol

[wolfiewill]

That's a very attractive tank. I can't wait to see it next weekend.

[fischkopp]

That's a pretty good and healthy growth. I like the left corner, the Ludwigia (so I believe) is forming a nice bush.

I might have missed it, but what sorta light are you running, as of number of bulbs, intensity, spectrum and duration?

[exv152]

You can really notice the difference in less than a month. Nice job. Those clown loaches are monsterous! Can't wait to see it in person.

[daworldisblack]

Wow Alex, thats explosive growth! I can't wait to see it in person too - this high-tech set up of yours!

[alexv]

I might have missed it, but what sorta light are you running, as of number of bulbs, intensity, spectrum and duration?

I have 8 x 80W T5 6400K bulbs. Currently running 6 of them for about 14 hours a day.

[alexv]

Just to update, seems like my algae problem have been solved. The tank is still doing well and no significant algae problems. Time to prune some plants after 2 weeks of doing absolutely nothing to the tank (not even cleaning the front glass)

I think the combination of regular fertilizer dozing (with a dosing pump) and also using Flourish Excel did the trick...

[alexv]

Compare to this: http://ovas.ca/forum/index.php?topic=55599.0

Hehe

[daworldisblack]

Looking awesome! Great to see the white skirts are doing well for you!

[exv152]

Hey Alex, Looks like your glosso has been filling in nicely 

[charlie]

Nice recovery, looking good.
Errol

[alexv]

Looking awesome! Great to see the white skirts are doing well for you!

Yes, thanks for them. They do add some contrast to my fish

[alexv]

Hey Alex, Looks like your glosso has been filling in nicely 

That's true. It is spreading. I have never been successful with keeping glosso before. Now the luck seems to have changed

Thanks.