phosphate

[cbster]

I just checked my phosphate level in my tank and it is at zero(Red Sea test kit) as of right now i dose,

1 1/2 tablespoons of magnesium sulfate (mgs04)
3/4 tablespoon of potassium sulfate (k2so4)
1 teaspoon csm+b
1/2 teaspoon chelated iron
1/4 teaspoon potassium nitrate(kno3)

The tank is a low light tank with only 80 watts on a 75 gallon tank there is an algae problem that i am trying to get rid of. The plants in the tank are Amazon Sword,Wisteria, and Anacharis. I have a pressurized co2 system that is not in use and a extra light that would add another 80 watts of lighting.

I do a weekly water change of about 75% to 80% and dose ferts. I have mono potassium phosphate. So how much Phosphate should i have in my tank?

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

What kind of algae are you currently having a problem with? Algae can be a good indicator of different nutrient deficiencies.

I know you're dosing PMDD (or a rough equivalent there of), but I'm going to quote the EI target level of PO4 being 1.0 - 2.0 PPM. Just keep in mine that phosphate will react with free ions, so it's best to dose them on a separate day than traces.

 

[tackful]

I believe that a phosphate to nitrate ratio of 1 to 10 is recommended. Do you know what your nitrates are? As for lighting, your current 1watt/gallon is very low. Adding the other 80 watts would bring the tank up to 2watts/gallon, also low but more reasonable. If more experienced members weigh in, they might also want to know about your substrate.

 

[jones57742]

ISo how much Phosphate should i have in my tank?

cb:

I have high light with DIY CO2.

I have found that any addition of Phosphate causes algae problems.

TR

 

[Canuck]

I regularly add phosphate to my high light tank and can say ime I've run into more algae problems when I haven't added it. How come you add so little nitrate?

 

[dundadundun]

my phosphates run 4ppm and up... without algae.

when something's low... here comes a breakout...

you shouldn't mix phosphates and traces but you can dose them on the same day... i do. i'm too lazy to dose every day...

what kind of lighting? t8, pc, cfl, mh, hps... color temps and/or specific bulbs may help too. i think 80 watts is more than enough t5ho but would be border with t8...

i don't see any calcium... that and your magnesium would make up gh...

try dosing k2so4, kh2po4 and micros ~1/4 what you dose kno3 by volume.

so, maybe 1/2tblsp kno3 to give you roughly 15ppm and 1/8 tblsp ea. kh2po4, k2so4 and plantex... adjust (lower one at a time) from there...

iron... maybe 1/4 what you dose the other 3. example: i suggested 1/8tsp that would be 1/32tsp iron...

 

[Cerianthus]

I personally would not dose any specific PO4 source. Feed Ocean nutrition F/w cube, it should provide natural PO4. Depending on your tank set up (Live Plants), you should be able to figure out how much and how often you should feed Fz Cube to maintain desired PO4. Even common fertilizer should contain PO4.

BTW, pic of algae you are having problem with???

It's not like if you have most advanced high tech gadget for plants thus dosing you individual/specific ingredient will not yield best results.
I have used metal halides with many different combo of lights (on timers) but when compared the results b/n high tech lihgting, CO2 system +precise additive VS high tech lighting, CO2 system + fish wastes as fertilizer (obtained thru overloaded live stock by some member's sandards but not mine), I saw no major differences other than more observations of unexplained implications possibly resulted due to dosing.

 

[Izzy2]

How often do you dose the 1 teaspoon csm+b? I think this calculates out to 56ml of the solution I use in my version of the EI dosing method. This is 19 mls everyother day for a week. This is similar to the 17mls that I dose in my 75 gallon. I'm guessing you have a 85 gallon tank.

I dose 1/8 tsp kh2po4 potassium phosphate 3x weekly in my 75. You could start out dosing 1/8 tsp once a week. Test you water after a few days to see if it is being absorbed by your bio-load. Add a second weekly dose if it stays below .5ppm (stays unmeasuarable) on the test.

Add more light and the pressurized co2. It will spark growth in plants, not algae. Otherwise that concentration of ferts seems high for a low light tank.

 

[timwag2001]

i would just dose
even a 1:10 ratio may be too low. most people that i know of like to have P levels at least over 2ppm. it helps keep gsa at bay