Dosing help needed?

[Ketso]

I am new to all this so bare with me. I also asked this on another forum and haven't gotten any help as of yet.

At the moment, I only have 2 small clumps of Water Sprite, 2 small crypts (Wendtii red), one small Java Fern and 2 small clumps of Java Moss in my 55 gallon. I intend to add several more plants including Green Hygro, Anubias Nana, African Fern and a few others possibly. I am going to do a DIY Co2 system for a few months and then remove it prior to adding fish. My lighting is at 128w 6500k running for 10 hours. Using plain sand for substrate.

Primary Question:
How should I dose for what I have now? So far, all I have added is about 1/5 of a capfull of Flourish Excel yesterday (tank was planted 3 days ago). I figured the plants needed "something", was just unsure of how much. :huh:

Secondary Question:
How do you (those that have sand substrate) keep your plants from floating up? The problem I am having isnt with the current my Rena Xp3 produces. It's due to the current from my air bubbler and stone that I run at night. Seems every morning I wake to find one or 2 plants floating.

Any help is very much appreciated!
DeMonZ

 

[phanmc]

Are your lights normal output fluorescents or compact fluorescents? If it's regular fluorescents a DIY CO2 system may be enough, if it's a CF then it will be hard to maintain a stable level of CO2 in a 55g tank with DIY.

Trying to dose for what you have now isn't going to work very well, dosing the bare minimum will more likely lead to a nutrient imbalance as one nutrient is consumed faster than another. Once that happens algae may become a problem. It will be much easier to heavily stock plants ASAP so you can dose appropriate levels from the get-go.

Fourish Excel is a carbon source, it has no other nutrients which are essential for plant growth. You will need to look into micro (minerals) and macro (potassium, nitrates, phosphates) nutrients as well. Check the fert sticky for more info.

Easiest way to keep plants down is to enough sufficient depth and burying the roots deep enough. When you start adding CO2, you don't want to use the bubbler, it makes too much surface agitation and will gas off CO2.

 

[GirlieGirl8521]

How should I dose for what I have now?

You have good lighting, but have some slower growing plants. I'd start by just dosing a comprehensive fertilizer, like regular Flourish once or twice a week. You can use the Excel every other day or so, I'd use about 1/2 a cap in a 55g though. Later, when you get more plants and get the DIY CO2 going, you can add potassium, nitrates, and phosphates (if your tank water doesn't have alot). When you get to that point, you can buy some dry fertilizers. I bought mine from http://www.gregwatson.com.

 

[Ketso]

Are your lights normal output fluorescents or compact fluorescents? If it's regular fluorescents a DIY CO2 system may be enough, if it's a CF then it will be hard to maintain a stable level of CO2 in a 55g tank with DIY.

Trying to dose for what you have now isn't going to work very well, dosing the bare minimum will more likely lead to a nutrient imbalance as one nutrient is consumed faster than another. Once that happens algae may become a problem. It will be much easier to heavily stock plants ASAP so you can dose appropriate levels from the get-go.

Fourish Excel is a carbon source, it has no other nutrients which are essential for plant growth. You will need to look into micro (minerals) and macro (potassium, nitrates, phosphates) nutrients as well. Check the fert sticky for more info.

Easiest way to keep plants down is to enough sufficient depth and burying the roots deep enough. When you start adding CO2, you don't want to use the bubbler, it makes too much surface agitation and will gas off CO2.

Lights are NO. Thanks for the info on "other nutrients". As for the bubbler, I was under the impression that plants needed the O2 at night. Maybe this is only necessary "after" fish are introduced?

You have good lighting, but have some slower growing plants. I'd start by just dosing a comprehensive fertilizer, like regular Flourish once or twice a week. You can use the Excel every other day or so, I'd use about 1/2 a cap in a 55g though. Later, when you get more plants and get the DIY CO2 going, you can add potassium, nitrates, and phosphates (if your tank water doesn't have alot). When you get to that point, you can buy some dry fertilizers. I bought mine from http://www.gregwatson.com.

Guess I need to stop off and get some reg. Flourish. Might be able to pick up some tomorrow. Going to look at getting several more plants tomorrow as well.

Thanks for the help.

 

[phanmc]

Lights are NO. Thanks for the info on "other nutrients". As for the bubbler, I was under the impression that plants needed the O2 at night. Maybe this is only necessary "after" fish are introduced?

Missed the part where you said you only used the bubbler at night. Still, in a moderately planted tank the plants will generate enough O2 to saturate the water well into the night. So it isn't needed.

 

[Rex Grigg]

Take a few minutes and read my Guide.

With your lighting you need to get a handle on dosing. A little bit of Excel (which is just an organic carbon) is not enough. Nor is any amount of Flourish.

 

[Ketso]

Take a few minutes and read my Guide.

With your lighting you need to get a handle on dosing. A little bit of Excel (which is just an organic carbon) is not enough. Nor is any amount of Flourish.

Thanks Rex Grigg!

I knew the Excel wouldnt be enough but was all I have at the moment. I also know I should have put more effort into learning about dosing prior to buying plants. Hopefully, my few plants will hold up for a few days until I can read through your guide and put together a strategy. I read through the first few pages tonight. Will finish up after work tomorrow.

I hope you know how small, some of what you say in there, makes a fella like me feel. LOL. I've got the Orange Box sand and DIY lights made with the hardware from shop lights. I mounted the hardware inside a wood frame that is painted white. I already have plans drawn up for a new one though. It will incorporate a mirror I purchased for $5 and be taller so the light is forced down instead of out.

Thanks again.
DeMonZ

 

[Ketso]

Take a few minutes and read my Guide.

With your lighting you need to get a handle on dosing. A little bit of Excel (which is just an organic carbon) is not enough. Nor is any amount of Flourish.

Well, I ended up waking an hour early this morning. Read your article and placed an order with Mr. Watson. Hopefully, I can find something at the LFS (in a small quantity) that will do until the supplies come in. Going to get some more plants today as well (maybe).

Will re-read your article again this evening and take some notes .

Care to recommend testing supplies for KH2PO4 and K2SO4? I currently only have the API FW Kit which covers the KNO3.

Thanks again!
DeMonZ

 

[Rex Grigg]

There is no decent consumer level test kit for potassium. The couple that are available only measure up to 2-5 ppm at best.

Almost all the test kit companies make phosphate test kits. Finding them can be another story. If you town has a store that specializes in reef tanks you might try there. Reef people test for phosphates more than the general fresh water people do.

If your sand and lights work for you then all is well. The advice in the Guide is based on a LOT of experience.