Yup, I divided instead of multiplying on the last step, should be about 112 by my numbers. And taking another look at that color chart, I really wish those dam colors were more precise. A digital redout would be nice! A computer interface, better. 
low nitrates?
- Thread starter loaches r cool
- Start date
An electronic nitrate test?
Easy.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15513&N=2004+113074
Easy.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15513&N=2004+113074
I have a cycled 5g betta tank., 0 ammonia,0 NitItes, 0 Nitrates. The plants (java fern,anacharis and a small amount of Hornwort) must be causeing this I suppose. I did have 5ppm NitrAtes for many weeks then BAM! All gone. Strange to me....
Forgot to add I use DIY CO2, 2l bottle.
Tom
I think something else is gholding the plants back, not the NO3, if the plants are growing very well, BGA will not infest their growing cones like that.
Fluff it off, good, do a larger water change, add ferts back.
If the BGA shows up 2 days later, fluff it off again.
If it shows up even faster, then it maybe the CO2 is a tad too low.
Be careful, add the CO2 very slowly, this will drive plant growth faster, EI assumes a non limiting nutrient level, make sure that it's all there, NO3, K, PO4, Traces, and Mg/Ca for GH.
CO2 is all that is left typically and good cleaning.
If the CO2 is good and you clean well, clean filter etc and keep after it, the BGA in those tips should go away.
BGA is not always causes by low NO3, but it certainly can be the lion's share of the causes(the real bad cases typically are, minor ones can be from low O2 production from the plants).
Regards,
Tom Barr
Fluff it off, good, do a larger water change, add ferts back.
If the BGA shows up 2 days later, fluff it off again.
If it shows up even faster, then it maybe the CO2 is a tad too low.
Be careful, add the CO2 very slowly, this will drive plant growth faster, EI assumes a non limiting nutrient level, make sure that it's all there, NO3, K, PO4, Traces, and Mg/Ca for GH.
CO2 is all that is left typically and good cleaning.
If the CO2 is good and you clean well, clean filter etc and keep after it, the BGA in those tips should go away.
BGA is not always causes by low NO3, but it certainly can be the lion's share of the causes(the real bad cases typically are, minor ones can be from low O2 production from the plants).
Regards,
Tom Barr
Thanks for the words of wisdom. I do have to admit I dont clean things as much as I should. I may see a little bga but it hasnt spread and I clean it once a week maybe, along with pruning and water change. Its not really much at all, but its there if you look for it in a few spots (its not like every plant has it on the tips, maybe 5% of my plants). Its mostly on the tips of older leaves of my larger swords and java fern that at or come through the surface of the water. I know everything isnt in perfect balance, the other notable algea would be what I beleive in gsa on some of my sword leaves. I know EI does 3X doses a week for both micros and macros and I'll also admit that atleast 1 out of 3 weeks I probably miss 1 dose each, making it 2X micro and macro doses. But thats just the way things are with me, being a crazy work schedule and lazy on top of that. My next bigger tank project I am seriously thinking about automating the dosing.
As far as CO2 it had been a bit lower lately, my prefilter on my powerhead I use to mist it was getting clogged and the flow was greatly reduced. Also after being out of town for a week end of december and turning the co2 way down, I am still fine-tuning it but its been up were it should be about a week now. i think things just needed to settle out a bit. I'll test it again tonight when I get home.
Out of curiosity, when dosing dry ferts directly into the tank, like KNO3, how long should one wait for the nutrient to fully dissolve into the water colum and provide an accurate reading with a test kit?
As far as CO2 it had been a bit lower lately, my prefilter on my powerhead I use to mist it was getting clogged and the flow was greatly reduced. Also after being out of town for a week end of december and turning the co2 way down, I am still fine-tuning it but its been up were it should be about a week now. i think things just needed to settle out a bit. I'll test it again tonight when I get home.
Out of curiosity, when dosing dry ferts directly into the tank, like KNO3, how long should one wait for the nutrient to fully dissolve into the water colum and provide an accurate reading with a test kit?
