Need help with plant ferts

Here is the deal with EI, if you do the 50% weekly waterchanges you can add the ammount of ferts as if you have a high light co2 tank. You can't build up to much ferts that way and you know without a doubt you won't run out. Running out ime is when algae has it's day. Now you can do some alteration of that, gradually cut the ferts back, one at a time, till you see the plants not grow as well then bump it up a little.

I have found that with low light no co2 I can dose 3/4 to 1/2 the recomended high light levels and do fine. ymmv

EI is about makeing sure you don't run out, with resets by waterchange ensureing you don't get to high levels.
 
The beauty about EI is its simplicity. A kind of obvious way to dose your tank. Works with any lighting level and with or without CO2. I've read many posts by Tom Barr saying the only real danger is low or eratic CO2 levels, but that's hardly the fault of EI.
 
My tank is to big for DYI and I've spent so much on buying and setting up the 2 tanks that injection will have to wait till next year.

My PH is 6.8 and KH around 3 -4 which leaves me on the low side of CO2. Should I dose Excel daily/ every other day to help with CO2 levels?

Since I'm low light low CO2 and not high level would I be better off taking my preposted measurements and cutting them in half and dosing twice a week dry ferts (Sat and Wed) and flourish (Sun, Tues,Thurs)?
 
Come on guys... I know, but won't name any names, that there are many planted tanks on this forum.

I can't believe I haven't gotten more responses towards helping me get my tank fertilizing regiment right.
 
Ok lets assume that you're on a 50% WC schedule. One thing I always dose during the WC is potassium, K2SO4. If you add around 20ppm you can't go wrong and you should never see a deficiency in that area. I've never heard of a K overdose or any algae issues caused by K.

You GH is a bit on the low side. I would start at 10ppm Mg and 40ppm Ca (to keep the 1:4 ratio) and monitor from there. Snails are a good calcium indicator. Pond snails seem to be the most susceptible to white shell syndrome.

PO4 and NO3 will be dosed based on uptake. Get to know what your plants needs by testing at first and dosing as required. Most people recommend a 10:1 ratio of NO3 to PO4. High levels of these won't cause algae if they are in balance. I don't have Tom Barrs confidence to say dose x and y amount every other day. When first starting a planted tank, testing does make you feel a bit safer.

It's really up to you if you want to dose Excel or try CO2. You current lighting doesn't make it essential.
 
Thanks reiverix,

So essentially I should double my Ca and Mg and everything else looks good?

I still need a PO4 test so I can make sure I'm 10:1 with nitrates. I know I have some phosphates in my water just not what amount.

My nitrates were 10 when I dosed on Sunday. I did another NA test today and it hasn't dropped. I guess that means I shouldn't add nitrates when I dose, that I should wait until I see the plant load start eating them up.

I didn't think I'd need CO2 or Excel but the Excel will help plant growth right? I'd like to see some good growth,so I can start helping with the give/take a plant thread, just not have it take over the tank.
 
You may not need to add Ca or Mg. It's not really carved in stone, but your GH would make me inclined to get the values up a bit. I think Greg Watson sells the Barr GH booster that might help you. I've been thinking about trying it out myself.

There's no harm at all in trying Excel on your tank. I'm sure it will help out some. Maybe nothing spectacular but probably noticable.
 
I was just reading Tom Barrs EI in another forum.

He was saying that in a non co2 tank not to do water changes, just top off the water. Even with fish in the tank. Is this nuts or what?

How do you remove heavy metals, or do the plants end up using them?

I guess if the nitrate rate is growing instead of dropping then you'd have to do a water change. I'm also thinking I read that its only in a heavily planted tank, which mine isn't.

Just thought that info went against everything I've ever read.
 
Okay well my Excel is supposed to arrive today so I can actually give my plants some CO2 now. I noticed after starting dosing that the algae on the ornaments have died. Believe its hair algae, looks almost like a lawn(?), but its still on the leaves of some plants. I'm going to try overdosing the Excel as I've read this will sometimes kill the algae.

I have a question about my 55 gallon. Its also a 1.75 wpg tank but with gravel and only has swords and some xmass moss. I haven't added anything to this tank but flourish. The swords are doing ok but I can tell they need a boost. Would I be better off dosing ferts or just adding root tabs?
 
Is there reason you guys dose micros every other day besides the obvious?

Since I just did a pwc and redosed my macros and added excel can I add my traces today also? Or is it better to wait till tomorrow. Seems that the nutrients are out of balance at the moment without the trace, but I'm just assuming.
 
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