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_Dosing Regimes_

248K views 471 replies 171 participants last post by  lifeofbrian 
#1 · (Edited)
For higher light, Co2 enriched tank's that are moderately
to heavy planted.

Add o2 to your tank daily, by either air stone or surface
agitation.

Dry Dosing... Use measuring spoon's found at
most department store's in the utensils section, scoop
appropriate amount and toss in the tank, simple as that!

I use to keep an old travel mug under the tank, and
keep fertilizers in large spice bottles, scoop appropriate
amount into cup, dip in tank, stir and serve.
Tsp=Teaspoon

*Dry Dosing Plantex CSM+B...
Converting 1 tablespoon to 250ml H20,
20 ml = 1/4 teaspoon of dry fertilizer.
There are 12 - 1/4 teaspoons dissolved
250ml/12=20.83ml.

20~40gal
50% H20 change-weekly
1/4 Tsp-KN03 3x a week
1/16 Tsp-KH2P04 3x aweek
1/2 Tsp-GH booster once a week
5ml or 1/16Tsp-Trace 3x a week
Optional
1-2ml-Fe/Iron 3x a week

"If dosing a 10gal highlight C02 enriched tank,
divide above regime x2"


40~60gal
50% H20 change-weekly
1/2 Tsp-KN03 3x a week
1/8 Tsp-KH2P04 3x a week
3/4 Tsp-GH booster once a week
10ml or 1/8Tsp-Trace 3x a week
Optional
2-4ml-Fe/Iron 3x a week

60~80gal
50% H20 change-weekly
3/4 Tsp-KN03 3x a week
3/16 Tsp-KH2P04 3x a week
1 Tsp-GH booster once a week
15ml 3/16Tsp-Trace 3x a week
Optional
4-8ml-Fe/Iron 3x a week

Mixing Trace Element and Iron, Plantex CSM+B,
Fe/Iron Chelate 10%- mix 1Tbsp per 250ml water-
one cap full=5ml

Adding Sodium Bicarb/baking soda:
One teaspoon baking soda will increase the kH of
50 liters of water approx. 13 gallons by 4 degrees.

Algae Issue's?
Increase C02, even if you have to use Flourish Excel,
and decrease the light, raise it up off the tank,
burn it less hour's etc, then re-evaluate the C02.

Clean & prune, all the plant's, manually remove as much
algae as you can, good condition's will slow it's growth,
even stop growth, you will need to remove the remaining
algae by hand...

Make sure you're C02 is at optimal condition's.

GDA: Cause-Too much light, reduce intensity

BBA: Add more C02/ Reduce light intensity and or duration.

BGA: add N03 and 02/oxygen.

Fish gasping? 02 Issue's?
Increase surface movement/splash, for night time/lights out,
decrease for opposite, if having 02 issue's surface
movement/splash is good.
So a simple lift of the spray bar or lily pipe to break the
surface will remedy that.

Good article on Biochemical Oxygen Demand

BOD http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/278839-post41.html

'Fertilizers for sale'

http://www.pfertz.com/

http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/

http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



This chart is to be used "ASSUMING" proper lighting levels are
being met. Without adequate lighting, this chart can't help you.
Check your bulbs and other threads on lighting to re-assure that
you have a proper light set-up for whatever method of aquatic
gardening you wish to achieve.

The Green represents growth, in group 1 we see that plant growth
is hindered because Micro nutrients aren't being met. Although all
other demands are given in plentiful amounts, growth is stunted by
the lacking nutrient.

Group2 is meant to demonstrate low amounts of nutrient balance =
slow growth. Lighting will drive the plants to soak up nutrients to no
end. They take and take depending on the intensity of light with no
real control. If you limit the amount of nutrients you place inside the
water column and substrate, you limit their growth, no matter how
long you run your lights.

Group 3 represents maximum growth given that all nutrients are in
abundance within a level tolerable to other inhabitants. The EI
method ensures that all nutrients are provided within tolerable
amounts to fauna, as well as a bit excess for flora, all excess is
removed with a water change every week.

Credit to Sarge for graph and text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An example of dosing 3x a week on my 46g tank,
This is what I do.

Sunday-----Day1)Prune,Preen,Clean glass inside, 50% or more H20
change, vac/sub, 1/2Tsp-KN03, 1/8-ish/Tsp-KH2P04,1/8Tsp-K2S04,
clean glass on outside.
Monday-----Day2) 10ml Trace, 2ml-Fe
Tuesday----Day3) 1/2Tsp-KN03, 1/8ish/Tsp-KH2P04,1/8Tsp-K2S04.
Wednesday-Day4) See day2
Thursday---Day5) See day3
Friday------Day6) See day2
Saturday---Day7) Nothing or prune, or walk the dog etc.
Sunday-----Day8) See day1

Thank you cbennet for the handout you made available
to the public during your presentation at a local meeting...Kudo's!
This can either be printed directly off the screen, or
you can drag and drop it to your desktop for printing.
 

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#418 ·
Hello, I have a 25Gallons tank with low light plants. Should I follow the steps from:

20~40gal
50% H20 change-weekly
1/4 Tsp-KN03 3x a week
1/16 Tsp-KH2P04 3x aweek
1/2 Tsp-GH booster once a week
5ml or 1/16Tsp-Trace 3x a week
Optional
1-2ml-Fe/Iron 3x a week

?? if so, how to find out how much 1/2 Tsp, 1/4tsp, and 1/16tsp per ml ?
 
#422 ·
Is doing EI only for high tech/CO2? I'm debating picking up the CSM+B from GLA but I have 3 low techs, a 2.5, 5.5, and 72g using Flourish/Excel...almost running out and it seems like dry ferts are worth the money- I just dont want to do 50% pwc every week (maybe 25-50 every 2 weeks)...is this still doable or am I looking at another kind of dosing regime?
 
#423 ·
just cut the dosing in half to start.. or start full EI dosing and test. if ur not using it all by water change time which you probably wont. then lower ur dosages.. EI is made simply to provide NON growth limiting nutrient supply in all growth situations. it doesnt mean that the plants will use all that u put in. just that the plants won't run out of nutrients to use while growing
 
#425 ·
It's been a couple years since the k2so4 has been removed. The reason is that you get k from kno3 and kh2po4. The rest of the k needed for ei comes from gh booster, since most gh booster comes with it. You also get some ca and mg from the booster. Since most people do not test for ca and mg, the amounts will get you enough for the week just in case ca or mg is a bit lacking in your tap. So basically, your are just getting k from another source, along with ca and mg.
 
#428 ·
I just started dosing ferts according to what i found in this post. Its only been about five days, so not much to report. Hopefully it will improve my plant quality. And a big thanks to everyone for all the info and help.

Riffs
37 gal.
moderately planted
4 Rainbowfish
2GBRs
2 Peppered Corys
3 Ottos
1 Angel
1 BN Pleco
 
#436 ·
Maxtcee, are you using teaspoons or tablespoons? The measurements are in teaspoons, not tablespoons, which would be 3X more. Even with that I doubt that the fish would notice the fertilizers - these are very small concentrations. Are you using CO2? High CO2 can certainly send the fish to the surface.
 
#438 ·
I am very new to this and would like some help...Ok so first what I have. A 55 fairly heavily planted tank with fish. I also have a co2 injection set up. I need help with how to fertilize my plants. What I have around is
Flourish Iron
(1% Fe)

Flourish Potassium
(5% K20)

Flourish Comprehensive Supplement
.07% Nitrogen
.01% P2O5
.37% K2O
.14% Ca
.11% Mg
.27 Sulfur
.009 Boron
1.15 Chlorine
.0004% Cobalt
.0001% Copper
.32% Fe
.0118% Manganese
.13% Sodium
.0007% Zinc
.0009% Molybdenum

I also just ordered some Plantex CSM + B. I was wondering if I need to order Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), Mono Potassium Phosphate (KH2PO4), Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4) or is the Flourish Potassium enough? Also for some of my plants that need root tabs am I supposed to put multiple tabs near the plants or just a few spread out anywhere in the tank? Lastly when/what order should I be adding everything. Thankyou in advance.
 
#439 ·
I have a question about the trace ferts and how to dose them. Is it better to mix the solution with water and dose them that way, or just add dry fertilizer directly into the tank? I see that the first page says "10ml or 1/8 tspn of CSM+B" (I have a 55g tank). Just curious what people do and if anyone has had better luck with one way over the other...

Thanks!
Ryan
 
#442 ·
The dosages listed in the tables are starting points, and are probably adequate for high light, with CO2 tanks. But, the tables can be adjusted for other light levels. If you have low light, and no CO2, you obviously need much smaller dosages. For that you can cut the table amounts in half, and probably have enough by dosing only once a week. And, if you have very high light, with CO2 maxed out, you can increase the dosages if you find it helps the plants grow better. This dosing method is a concept, not a set of hard and fast rules.
 
#449 ·
OK so I've read lots here and am planning on ordering all my ferts from GLA in the next couple days. My question before I do so is whether this is a world class planted tank fert regimen or just a 'pretty good but you've got a lot to learn' regimen. I reckon sinced I'm getting my new light next week and will add pressurized co2 shortly thereafter (currently on DIY) I will take the 3rd step toward a very heavily planted tank and fertilize properly.

This is what I plan on for my 25T under a dual T5HO 24" and 30ppm co2.

20~40gal
50% H20 change-weekly
1/4 Tsp-KN03 3x a week
1/16 Tsp-KH2P04 3x aweek
1/2 Tsp-GH booster once a week
5ml or 1/16Tsp-Trace 3x a week
Optional
1-2ml-Fe/Iron 3x a week
 
#450 ·
My question before I do so is whether this is a world class planted tank fert regimen or just a 'pretty good but you've got a lot to learn' regimen.

This is what I plan on for my 25T under a dual T5HO 24" and 30ppm co2.

20~40gal
50% H20 change-weekly
1/4 Tsp-KN03 3x a week
1/16 Tsp-KH2P04 3x aweek
1/2 Tsp-GH booster once a week
5ml or 1/16Tsp-Trace 3x a week
Optional
1-2ml-Fe/Iron 3x a week
This looks like your standard Estimative Index (EI) dosing regimen, so it should be fine.

Of course, as with any fertilization regimen, it only serves as a basis for dosing, and you can always tweak them to suit your needs.
 
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