Let's play "Guess the missing nutrient"!

[JeffHerr]

Say, can one install lower wattage bulbs in a 4-prong T5 fixture? That'd be one way to reduce light as well as power consumption, no?

[micheljq]

Shouldn't be any phosphates PO4 dosed as well? I do not see any phosphates dosing.

Michel.

[bikinibottom]

Originally Posted by JeffHerr

Say, can one install lower wattage bulbs in a 4-prong T5 fixture? That'd be one way to reduce light as well as power consumption, no?

I asked this very question of the distributor of my fixture, who contacted the manufacturer, who said "don't do it". They said it would either burn the bulb out really quickly or would burn it out immediately.

[JeffHerr]

Any other educated guesses or opinions on what's going on?

Funny thing is that I was using this same light strip before (2 years ago) with same tank and plants and they were growing great. Sometimes this hobby can be so challenging!

[sowNreap]

Originally Posted by JeffHerr

I've got a 55gal Carbon-supplemented tank, fully cycled. New to EI, about 3 weeks. Many new plants added at that time.
Dosing:
1/4 tsp KNO3 x 3
1/8 tsp MKP x 3
1/8 tsp K2SO4 x 3
1/4 CSM+B x 3 (alternate with macros)
10mL Excel daily
1/8 iron (DPTA) on non-CSM days
... snipped

Just to confirm so I don't have it wrong ... I thought iron was dosed on same day as mIcros (CSM+b) NOT on same day as mAcros (non-CSM days). ???

[JeffHerr]

When I first wrote this, I was dosing Iron daily. So, I was doing all my dosing at night, then Iron and Excel in the mornings. It put time between Phosphate and Iron, reducing interaction. Then, realizing my Iron was getting a little high, I started skipping iron dosing the morning after CSM (which contains iron).
You are spot-on, but with 12 hours between iron and other nutrients, I think I'm okay.

[sowNreap]

Originally Posted by JeffHerr

When I first wrote this, I was dosing Iron daily. So, I was doing all my dosing at night, then Iron and Excel in the mornings. It put time between Phosphate and Iron, reducing interaction. Then, realizing my Iron was getting a little high, I started skipping iron dosing the morning after CSM (which contains iron).
You are spot-on, but with 12 hours between iron and other nutrients, I think I'm okay.

Ok .. good deal. Yeah the time between your dosing would definitely seem long enough. I now only dose most tanks once a week since they're low light .. one day macros, next day micros and iron. Good to know I'm doing iron the right day. I keep confusing myself when to dose it .. getting to old to remember one week to the next.

[JeffHerr]

I just realized I said I had 130w T5 for 55 gal. My bad...

I have standard compact fluorescents. Is approx 2 watt/gal of CF still too much light? I've cut my photo period back to 8 hours, but feel like 10 hours of full 130 watt CF lighting should be fine for an Excel/EI dosed tank.

Opinions?

[plantbrain]

If you go CO2, then we can modify.
If not, use the Excel the way I mentioned.

5mls per 10 gal of tank each day.
Add more plants.
Cut the ferts by 75%.

Do a few more water changes till the tank cleans up, then back off.

Excel is only going to increase growth maybe 200-400%, whereas CO2 gas will increase it 1000-2000%.

The directions are for lightly planted tanks, if you have plenty of plants, you need more. FYI, I've bred fish in tanks dosed that much, and there's 101 people suggesting dosing 2-3x what I'm suggesting to kill algae etc.
I've likely used excel longer than anyone on this forum and at that dose(Check APD if you wish, it was a time before "forums" existed).

Your light plan is good.

[JeffHerr]

Tom, thanks for the confirmation on the lighting.

I've upped the Excel and will reduce my ferts across the board as you suggest.

Thanks!

[Django]

Originally Posted by JeffHerr

Thanks to all for the notes. Here are more details:
No CO2, only 7-9mL Excel daily
I have 2x65w T5 (correction, I have compact fluor) for 10hrs/day

I used a Magnum 250 and a supplemental koralia nano for increased circulation.

NO3 usually runs between 10 and 20.
Iron about .25
Phos is unknown
Ph is roughly 7+
GH and KH both 6, IIRC
Temp is 76

I will say that because I'm not dosing CO2, but am supplementing Excel, I'm not sure what exactly my EI amounts should be.

Someone suggested I should be dosing twice as much KNO3 as I am. Yes? No?

CORRECTION: I listed my lighting as T5, but it's standard compact fluorescent. Is 130w of CF for 55gal still too much?

Another CO2-less fishkeeper here. From what I have gathered, if you have 10-20 ppm nitrates you don't need any more and should stop there. maybe you should think of dosing 1/2, except possibly if you go down to zero.