Fertilizing

[Ambidestrian]

I am setting up a planted aquarium with eco-complete and flourish tabs as substrate, so I think a sufficient quantity of micronutrients will be supplied to the plants..

If I were to dose K2PO4 and KNO3, and monitor the PO4 and NO3 levels with test kits, do you think I would run into problems with excess K? What could happen? Should I dose PO4 salts with a different cation?

 

[plantbrain]

Well, you really do not need to worry about K+, and testing is certainly not required, nor likely what you want to do instead of enjoying the aquarium.

http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2819-EI-light-for-those-less-techy-folks

I'd still dose micro's to the water column Eco has virtually nothing for plants nutrient wise.
The bags claim they do, but these are not bioavailable etc.

 

[Ambidestrian]

I don't want to do all the water changing involved in EI. Water changes mean riding a bicycle to the store with a jug of RO water on my back.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Unless your tap water is extremely hard, I see no need to use RO water for a planted tank.

 

[Ambidestrian]

High. Tech.

... I think maybe I will get some ehfisubstrat, too.

On a less facetious note, I am keeping an Apisto.

 

[plantbrain]

I don't want to do all the water changing involved in EI. Water changes mean riding a bicycle to the store with a jug of RO water on my back.

Few, if any one uses or certainly NEEDS RO water. Use tap as suggested. Add dechlorinator.
If water changes are more the issue, then go non CO2 methods and do not change the water at all, just top off, maybe once every 6-12 months after a trim.

I use this to drain and fill from the shower:

Water changes are easy and quick, there's no guess work.
Test kits? There definitely is.

I spend about 1.5 hours per WEEK on my tanks, this includes the water change and the trimming and scaping.
I have 5 tanks totaling 500 gallons.

Hangs on the tank, to drain, then I connect the hose to the shower head, adjust temp, then add dechlorinator in the tank and refill.
Takes me less than 20 min to do a 180 Gal tank and I clean the filters and whatever not while it drains/refills.

 

[plantbrain]

High. Tech.

... I think maybe I will get some ehfisubstrat, too.

On a less facetious note, I am keeping an Apisto.

I have electric blue rams.

Sturisoma are breeding.......and have been for the last 6 months.

I use tap.

The results speak for themselves.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[plantbrain]

You might consider a non CO2 method however.
But plant growth will be about 10x slower, which you may not care much about.
But the trade off is you no longer do water changes.
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2817-Non-CO2-methods

Also, with lower light intensity, your plant demand for ferts is greatly reduced.
EI just gives you a starting point, from this upper range, with lower lighting(like what I use and suggest), you can simply slowly and progressively reduce the dosing till you note a negative impact on plant growth, then bump back up to the last highest dosing.
Then you can do a water change once a month or so.

If you really do not want to do water changes, this is not a good hobby for you to be honestly frank. The non CO2 planted tank is the best option for that. Where are getting the tap water from? City etc?