Just setup my planted tank! When do I start dosing with EI?

Ikhalis · 03-10-2011, 04:25 PM

I've just setup my 55g tank and setup a profile here (newbie to the site)and I have a few questions.

1) I'm aiming for 30ppm CO2 and have had the bubble rate at about 1 bubble per second and my reactor has no gas buildup yet my PH is staying steady around 7.6-7.8. Is this because of the uptake rate of my plants? Are they just using up all the CO2?

2) I have dry ferts ready to mix into stock solutions and I know the target amounts I should aim for (Nitrates 20-25ppm / Potassium 5-10ppm / Phosphates 0.5-1 ppm) When do I start dosing if I just planted the tank yesterday? Right away?

3) Regarding EI - If I know my targets and I am dosing macros 3 times a week with a 50% water change weekly. Do I divide the target dosage by 3? or do I dose to the full amount 3 times throughout the week to account for plant uptake.

Thanks for any help!

Darkblade48 · 03-10-2011, 07:53 PM

1 bubble a second for a 55 gallon aquarium is not a very high CO2 rate at all. I would try increasing it to 2 bubbles per second and going from there.

Also, are you using a drop checker? It (along with a properly made 4 dkH reference solution) will help you in determining the approximate CO2 levels.

In terms of dosing, you can start dosing immediately.

For EI dosing, you just dose the indicated amounts, three times a week. The amounts that are listed are individual doses, and not weekly doses.

Ikhalis · 03-10-2011, 09:16 PM

Thanks! I've just done my first dose I'll increase the CO2 rate. I guess the LFS recommended a starting BPS that was a little too safe.

I was just going to use a CO2 chart and PH test kit but I think I may need to get a drop checker. The Green Leaf Aquariums one looks pretty nice for the cost but they are out of stock at the moment.

How often does the reference solution in a drop checker need to be changed?

03-10-2011, 04:25 PM	#1
Ikhalis Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 2	Just setup my planted tank! When do I start dosing with EI? I've just setup my 55g tank and setup a profile here (newbie to the site)and I have a few questions. 1) I'm aiming for 30ppm CO2 and have had the bubble rate at about 1 bubble per second and my reactor has no gas buildup yet my PH is staying steady around 7.6-7.8. Is this because of the uptake rate of my plants? Are they just using up all the CO2? 2) I have dry ferts ready to mix into stock solutions and I know the target amounts I should aim for (Nitrates 20-25ppm / Potassium 5-10ppm / Phosphates 0.5-1 ppm) When do I start dosing if I just planted the tank yesterday? Right away? 3) Regarding EI - If I know my targets and I am dosing macros 3 times a week with a 50% water change weekly. Do I divide the target dosage by 3? or do I dose to the full amount 3 times throughout the week to account for plant uptake. Thanks for any help!

03-10-2011, 07:53 PM	#2
Darkblade48 Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,056	1 bubble a second for a 55 gallon aquarium is not a very high CO2 rate at all. I would try increasing it to 2 bubbles per second and going from there. Also, are you using a drop checker? It (along with a properly made 4 dkH reference solution) will help you in determining the approximate CO2 levels. In terms of dosing, you can start dosing immediately. For EI dosing, you just dose the indicated amounts, three times a week. The amounts that are listed are individual doses, and not weekly doses. __________________ Anthony A Primer to Pressurized CO2 and A Primer to Planted Tanks Eheim Pimp #362 - Eheim 2213 x2, Eheim 2028, Ehein 2217, Eheim surface skimmer and Eheim autofeeder. Victor Pimp #33 - HPT272-125-350-4M

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03-10-2011, 09:16 PM	#3
Ikhalis Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 2	Thanks! I've just done my first dose I'll increase the CO2 rate. I guess the LFS recommended a starting BPS that was a little too safe. I was just going to use a CO2 chart and PH test kit but I think I may need to get a drop checker. The Green Leaf Aquariums one looks pretty nice for the cost but they are out of stock at the moment. How often does the reference solution in a drop checker need to be changed?