Is there guideline to the amount of fertilizer?

[Posiden]

I am just a beginner, and have set up a week old 10 gallon tank.
I am using Flourish comprehensive, excel, iron and trace...but i need K, P, N

im going to use potassium nitrate, mon0 potassium phosphate and potassium sulfate...

I have to figure out, with research, how much to dose but is there a chart to the amount in ppm i should have in a tank...

i know it varies, but just to start of i want to follow something..please help

 

[jpappy789]

Check here first.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136668

Also google "Estimative Index"...it's a common dosing routine.

 

[timwag2001]

here, you can check this out
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2819-EI-light-for-those-less-techy-folks

dont bother with dosing potasium sulfate. you'll get enough K by dosing potasium nitrate and mono potassium phoshate.

what are you dosing for trace?

 

[mysticmikie]

Check this out:
Sticky: Co2, Fertilization, Algae and more updated 6/08

 

[Posiden]

thanks for the links guys, but to start this method, it says that i need a c02 level of 25 to 35 ppm....my kh is at about 9 and my ph 7.2 (done with api test kits) giving me only 17 pp, pg c02 from chart http://rexgrigg.com/co2.pdf

im running a diy c02 gen and flourish excel in a 10 gallon....

i can add backing soda and raise up my kh to maybe like 16????

 

[jpappy789]

I've never been told that 25-30 ppm is necessary for EI however it is widely recommended for healthy plant growth no matter what. Not to mention the KH-pH-CO2 charts are not the most accurate. Excel is another carbon source that is not easily accounted for.

Specific dosing is going to come down to the nutrient demands of your plants which is based on lighting, CO2, actual species, etc. There is no clear cut dosing guide and the EI method provides some flexibility...

 

[Canuck]

thanks for the links guys, but to start this method, it says that i need a c02 level of 25 to 35 ppm....my kh is at about 9 and my ph 7.2 (done with api test kits) giving me only 17 pp, pg c02 from chart http://rexgrigg.com/co2.pdf

im running a diy c02 gen and flourish excel in a 10 gallon....

i can add backing soda and raise up my kh to maybe like 16????

Adding baking soda increases kH and pH, it will not increase CO2. The only thing that increases CO2 is adding more CO2.

EI is easily modified for low light, which does not require the high CO2 levels. Since plant demands are not as high, just reduce dosing to once or twice a week. Keep your CO2 as consistent as possible.

 

[JasonO]

Be very careful when dosing, I use an ear eye dropper, that I bought in the pharmacy aisle of the grocery store, because I noticed pouring wasn't very exact.

I can't really give you exact dosage for a 10 gallon because, I feel it also depends on the amount of plants and their type. I have put the same amount of fertilizer into the same 10 gallon, with different plants and once got a HUGE green water spike, and other times the plants just grow like crazy.

I actually stopped using liquid fertilizer on my 10 gallon because I now favor root tabs because their is less room for error.

I believe a good dose for my 10 gallon is 4 mg liquid fertilizer every month if it helps, but your tank may be different. I would play it safe to avoid greenwater though.

 

[londonloco]

I use PPS, as if you skip a WC one week, it's not going to matter. Guidelines are found on APC.

 

[plantbrain]

I use PPS, as if you skip a WC one week, it's not going to matter. Guidelines are found on APC.

Same is true and can be said for every and any method......

regards,
Tom Barr