Tom Barr's dosing regimen

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falcon

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Dec 16, 2003
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I was going over previous posts, and Tom suggests alternating macros and micros. Is there a reason for that? From a convenience perspective, dosing every other day is easier than every day. I mean, if it's better, I'll do it. I dose dry ferts and I have to weight them before dosing anyway.

I haven't seen anything on MgSO4. Part of the original PMDD recipe included mixing MgSO4 if not included in the trace mix. My trace mix is from a hydroponics store and as far as I know it does not contain MgSO4 (Fe 7%, B 1.3%, Mn 2%, Zn 0.4%, Cu 0.1%, Mo 0.06%). Should I still be dosing it?

I have been dosing 3.5g once a week on my 65g and I found that it brings my gH up by one degree so I have reduced it to 1g once a week. On my 120, I used to dose 7g once a week, but now I will be reducing it to 3 or 2g. Good/bad?

Thanks

falcon
 
It would help if you could break it down in terms of how much of each element you are dosing with the PMDD mix.
I would not question Tom's theory. He's the man. I dose macros at water change and at mid-week(no K+) to bring them back into spec. I dose micros every day except water change day. This brings good results for me.
I suggest that you download Chuck's calculator and start with the suggested dosages for each element on it. Then you can tweak your dosages from there.
www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm

Len
 
I've dosed 2-3x a week for a long time.
I found it easier to remeber if I do it daily, liek when I feed the fish, takes about 15 seconds, a little teaspoon of this and a little of that, next day a few mls of this.

Not sure why some folks freak out over it:-)
I dose the macro's 4 days a week and the traces the other 3.
Fe and PO4 are not good to add together(precipitation) on the same day and I keep them separated in dosing systems that are automated with dosing pumps.

If you have less light, say 2w/gal or less, then once a week can do it if you have a decent fish load.

Less fish, more light, 2x a week up to about 3x a week.
The daily thing is actually deceptively easier than 2-3x a week.

"Let me see, did I dose yesterday or was that the day before?"
I asked that one too many times.

I feed the fish daily, so I do the plants as well.
Whatever routine works for you depending on your se up and goals.

You do not have to dose at all with non CO2 tanks, well, you feed the fish which is dosing for the plants down the line.

I do not add MgSO4, I see little need if your GH is over 4-5.
You can add a tad if you want on the water change day etc,
Otherwise keep GH stuff dry, I dose most things dry except traces or if I use dosing pumps.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
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Len, I dose dry ferts now. I have just addopted some of the things from PMDD for dry dosing and Mg was one of them. Believe me, I am not questioning Tom's theory. As far as I'm concerning, whatever he says, I'm willing to try. :bowing: Just that I've never seen any mention of Mg.

My 120g has been running for about a year now. I have been having slimy algea problems with this tank, comes and goes. After reading some of Tom's older posts, I will have to re-check my co2 to make sure I am injecting enough and the probe measures correctly. On the 120g, I have been varying dosing according to testing. But after reading some older posts, I decided to try dosing on a regular basis and not worry about the testing as much. I am doing 50% weekly w/c anyway, so things should be fine. I am coming out of blackout on the 120g today, so I will do a 60% w/c and crank up the co2 and dose fresh. For dosing I am thinking of 4g of KNO3, 14 drops of enema for phosphate, I have been dosing Mg on this tank but as Tom's suggestion will stop as my gH is 11(I don't know if Mg would cause slimy algea, but maybe that's the culprit. I used to dose some K separate, but now I should be getting enough from KNO3 dosing. Traces, I dose at 0.6g(from dydroponics store). All the dosing is done every other day(except K and Mg weekly), all mixed together(but after next w/c will separate macros and micros). I have 2 amazon swords in this tank and one(double) ozelot and I'm starting to dislike them as they're so big and take away too much in terms of swimming space. Will probably pull one out this week - just cut the roots. (gH11/kH5/pH6.7/) 60x26x18 - 260w pc lights. Pressurized co2 on a controller.

The 65g has been running for about 3months now. Things are growing real well in there. No algea issues. This one gets 50% weekly w/c as well, but with about 40% r/o mix. (gH5/kH3/pH6.5). Dosing for this one I have revised slightly as well. 2g of KNO3, 7 drops of enema, 0.3g of traces. Again here I won't be dosing for K as should have enough from KNO3 and Mg has been at 3.5g/week but reduced lately to 1g/week. Might continue here as my gH is lower. 36x24x18 - 192w pc lights. Pressurized co2 on a controller.

For my dosing I have been using Chuck's calculator and I weight dry ferts on a very accurate scale as it's easier than trying to measure 2/5 or 1/4 of a teaspoon.

Sorry for the long post. :)
 
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Just to add to previous post,

Tom/Len - now that I will dose micros on a separate day it will probably be easier if I dose as liquid. In my previous post I have indicated the composition of the trace. What would be the right amount to dose if I were to dose 3x/week? Let's say making a 250ml solution or whatever divides better into 65g and 120g.

Thanks.
 
Make up a stock solution and dose with a baby dropper marked in mls.
It is really hard to make a suggestion on dosages without seeing the tank and plant mass.
I have very, very heavy plant mass in all my tanks. In my 40 and 55s, I dose 49 and 56mls respectively, broken down into 6 daily dosages during the course of the week.
And I believe I'm under dosing the micros at those numbers. I'm raising slowly to and observing redness in the red plants and growth over-all to assess need or lack of it for upping my dosages.
There is no right/wrong way to dose these elements. Just the way that works for you.
Sorry if I gave you the impression that I thought you were questioning Tom's recommendations. I said that as sort of a disclaimer so no one would think I was disagreeing with his method. I have learned to follow his methods and tweak them to what works for me.

Len
 
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