Just tested nitrates, 160ppm!!! HELP!

[pzuzu]

OMG! Am I ever gonna get this right?

A week ago, my Nitrates reading was at 10ppm.

Over the weekend I started doing the EI method in my 46g.

My readings were as follows:

46g, 2w/g
Amm 0ppm
Nitrites 0ppm
Nitrates 10ppm
KH 2
PH 6.4
DIY CO2 with Hagen ladder (which raised my CO2ppm from 15 to 24ppm, wow!)
I used florida crushed coral with aragonite 12tsp in filter media baggie cuz my tap water KH is 1, altough I suspect 0, the test kit demands at least one drop.

I added the following nutrients :

Grant's Stump remover 3/4 tsp for NO3
Fleet 1/4mL for PO4
Substitute Salt 1/2tsp for K
Epsom Salt 1 1/2 tsp for Mg
Flourish Iron 2mL for Fe
Flourish Comprehensive 4mL for traces
Jobes Fertilizer Spikes - about 3 or 4 total, only in areas with a lot of root feeders.

I had done about a 75% WC before the addition of these nutrients

I just did a series of tests, and the Nitrate test is at 160ppm! Someone please help me figure this out. I thought I had done everything right this time around! grrr...

I have fishies in there too!!!

Thanks you!
Fernando

 

[Jay]

I assume you know what your tap water parameters are, right?

3/4 teaspoon of "KNO3" will give you a bump of 14ppm in 46 gallons.

I have no idea what is in "Grants" do you?

That leaves the plant spikes, that IME, need to be used and handled with some caution so as not to leach into the water column. I have no Idea what the is in the spikes, do you?

I think you need revisit the chemicals you are using, the exact consequences of using each one, and the way you are using them.

You say you are using the EI I'm not convinced you are.

Jay

 

[IceH2O]

OMG!
Jobes Fertilizer Spikes - about 3 or 4 total, only in areas with a lot of root feeders.

Thanks you!
Fernando

The fertilizer formula for houseplants is alot different than the formula for the fern/palm plants. Are you using the houseplant sticks?