Fert questions.

Nocturnus

Nocturnus

AC Members
Feb 26, 2004
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Central Texas
www.photo-mojo.net
Real Name
Ed
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Canon 70d
Right now i've been dosing only Leaf Zone. I have a 20g tall with 65w 6700k PC light, Schultz aquatic plant soil and DIY co2. I know I should dose more, but right now my budget is so tight right now I can't afford much for my tank. If I had to dose anything what should it be? I might be able to get the money for something. Should I get Flourish or Flourish Excel? And if I do that, should i stop using my Leaf Zone? Just some general tank info

ph 7.2
kh 80ppm
gh 150ppm
nitrite 0 ppm
nitrate 20ppm
temp 80f

No ammoina test, but it should be fine. Tank was setup on 10/1/04
 
I'm unfamiliar with the elements and their percentages in Leaf Zone. If you could list the ingredients it would help someone advise you of your options.
Where are the N readings coming from in your tank? Tap or dosing?

Len
 
Leaf Zone is 3% k20 and .10% Iron. Looks like tap water is reading ~10ppm no3. It also looks like my co2 levels are 8.5ppm by using the pH/KH method. So it does look like I need to raise my co2 some. But of course, it could be the way it's getting out into the water. Really bad difusser. I need to build the power head one, or at lease use a bell.
 
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Go to www.gregwatson.com
KNO3 and KH2PO4
Use Flourish for your traces.
The KNO3/KH2PO4 are Dirt cheap

Fix the CO2 before you do anything though, that's a huge issue and will cause you algae unless you can keep it high, 20-30ppm for the entire photoperoid.

No dosing is going to work well unless you address the CO2.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
What would be the best way to fix it? Lets say I get a better diffuser or use an active diffuser and that doesnt raise my co2 levels any. Would adding baking soda help? I'm gonna see if the local stores got any master test kits in today, if not, i'm gonna get pH and a KH test kits. I was using some test strips to read, and rather get the drop test kits over the strips for this. Should I order the PMDD Pre-Mix from that website?
 
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I'm not a big fan of test strips. Aquar. Pharm. makes a pretty good pH kit, and most kH kits will be pretty close. The CO2 ppm is something you should be as accurate as possible with, and with your light you need at least 20ppm or higher.
Also, since Tom has suggested dosing PO4, and I do below, you really will need a PO4 test kit as well. I use Hagen's and like it.
You need to be accurate with your N readings(tap & tank) as well. Aquar. Pharm's N kit is pretty good for that.

Get Gregg's KNO3 and KH2PO4 or go to your local pharmacy and pick up a bottle of Fleet's Enema for the PO4. It will cost less than $2, is a liquid and easy to dose. With the KNO3 and PO4 and Flourish(not Flourish 'Trace')in addition to pushing your CO2 you should see improvement. When you start dosing these three, stop using the Leaf Zone. IMO, that would cause over-kill of certain elements.

What type and amount of fish are in the tank? What kind of filtration do you have?
What are you presently using for CO2 diffusion?

You don't mention why you've posted. Are you experiencing algae issues or do you just want to improve plant growth?

Len
 
I'm using a very getto method. I have an old filter intake tube (~10" long) turned upside down with the opening the gravel. I have a piece of a sponge filter ~2" above the bottom and the co2 enters at the very bottom, though the sponge then though another open area of ~5" that has some marbles in it, then ~2" of sponge then above the sponge is more open area to the end of the old intake tube. The co2 exits via the top sponge and the original filter opening. But alot is lose due to the overfill and big co2 bubbles flow out. I'm going to work on my active diffuser today and get that running before I do anything.

I'll pick up a Fleet today. I dont think any local places has a PO4 test kit in stock. How do I know how much to dose? Other then a little at a time and check the pH/KH levels?

Let me put this question out there. I'm low on cash, job doesnt start till Nov 1, and 1st check will be on the 12th.

One of the reason was I was getting some brown algae, which of course could be due to the tank still being fairly new. I picked up 2 otto's (one for eating the algae and two, they do fit my tank, since most every tank i've had, has ottos in them).
 
Also, could I make a better difusser by using just my powerhead nad piping the co2 line to the intake on the powerhead?

Ignore that, I got some parts to make one with a chamber in tank. The aquarium sealent is curing right now. Wasnt able to get any test kits today, so looks like im gonna have to wait on that.. I have a couple of test strips left, so i'm going to have to use them for now (both the petco and petsmart near by use strips and the closest fish store is ~20-25 miles away). So after i get my new active diffuser working, i'll test with what I got and take a sample to the store. Are people getting 15-20ppm off DIY setups in a 20g tank?

I'm gonna have to get a stronger power head for this project, so it's now delayed. I now have the co2 line in my filter intake w/airstone. So i'm gonna try that for a little bit.
 
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Welp, just tested my tank, pH was 6.8 down from 7.2, KH was still 80ppm, so that is ~21ppm co2. I'm now out of test strips, but have a kit this weekend. In the mean time, I'll drag myself down to the LFS and have them test it and pick up some plants.
 
Since the above test was done with the last test strip i had, i went to the fish store, and watched em test the water... pH 7.0 and KH 4deg. so that's ~12ppm co2. the co2 is now injected in the filter intake. So will using RO water better help me? Lower the pH some, but I dont know what the RO process does to KH.
 
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