Which dosing method do you prefer?

[mistergreen]

The EI method tends to overdose on ferts..
and the PMDD method tends to be low on ferts.

or do you have your own method?
I'm curious and thinking of switch to PMDD.

[defdac]

PMDD is just a reciepe for ferts (PMDD is used in EI), so what do you mean with the "PMDD method"?

[Color Me Blue]

I prefer the EI method. You don't have to be exact in your measurements and since I was already doing once a week water changes, this dosing method just fit right in. All you have to do is pay attention to your plants; if they need more of something/or less than something, then you just make the adjustments. Just that easy.

[Gatekeeper]

there is also the pps method if you are looking into other options. i know alot of people from my club are doing it and there seem to be some great results.

the pps method is when you "dial in" the ferts to what is actually being used by the plants. Lots of testing involved in the intial setup.

there is nothing wrong with "overdosing" ferts btw. its underdosing that appears to be the major problem. the overdosing in the EI method is controlled by your weekly water change, which resets the dosing.

HTH

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by defdac

PMDD is just a reciepe for ferts (PMDD is used in EI), so what do you mean with the "PMDD method"?

I guess I meant with PMDD as outlined here http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/pmdd-tim.html

it's basically pps.

[Jason Baliban]

Assuming that all methods work perfectly, i think it depends on your goals.

If you are an aquascaper, PPS lends itself to slower controlled growth, which is easier to maintain. Slower is the friend of an aquascaper.

If you are just looking to grow nice plants, EI may be best for you, as it produces nice FAST growth.

jB

[EdTheEdge]

Eye prefer the EI (eyeball method). Over the years Eye've learned to eyeball what my plants need and provide the necessary nutrients.

Works for me....

[mistergreen]

They're all eye ball method really..
PPS is simpler for me because you mix everything together and every day you add 1ml or whatever of the stuff. It's like feeding the fish in routine.

You have to schedule with EI.

[Wasserpest]

With my medium lit tanks, I try to dose as little as possible while keeping plants healthy. Small amounts of micros (aka TRACES), 5ppm NO3, 0.5 PO4 etc.

Why? 1) I don't need record biomass production, pruning every other week is enough. 2) Allows me to neglect tanks for a while. If I am out for 3 weeks and can't do my 50% plus weekly water change I don't need to be worried. 3) If your fertilizer runs out or some timer resets or some other oops it may have a huge impact when your tank is used to EI, I get cut some slack. 4) I think it is healthier for the animals in my tanks. 5) Fertilizers and CO2 are cheap, but even so I can still save some money. 6) I think the exact level of a certain nutrient is not too important, as long as it is not zero or completely out of balance. With daily autodosing, I am pretty sure there is always some nutritious stuff in the water.

For highlight tanks, and for those who need a very simple recipe, EI works great though.

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

They're all eye ball method really..
PPS is simpler for me because you mix everything together and every day you add 1ml or whatever of the stuff. It's like feeding the fish in routine.

You have to schedule with EI.

No......... you don't any more than PPS.
You can easily do daily dosing for EI.
You may also dose the PPS, which is essentially PMDD with a little change, not much, by merely dosing 3-4 x a week, you do not have to divide it by 7 andmore than you must divide EI by 3 per week.

Why are you assuming such rigid routines here?
I've never stated nor suggested it was so rigid that way.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Glouglou]

When I came back to the hobby 3 years ago I start with the PMDD method. After one year of mix result (maybe not because the method itself but I try to learn all the new concept and put some of them in application...)

Anyway, start to dose more heavily for a year with other mixed results.

Now I’m using the method that seem to work for me.
For Iron and trace, I’m using the PMDD mix with some changes.

For 150 ml Water:
The mix: Fe and traces + other nutrients

Fe/Traces= 1.5 teasp (same as PMDD)
K2SO4 = 1 teasp (same as PMDD) (dosed by itself as needed)
KNO3 —> Out of the mix (dosed by itself as needed)
MgSO4= 1 teasp around 1/4 of the PMDD original mix (dosed by itself as needed)

I dosed my 33 gal with this around 1ml everyday (give me around .4 mg/l Fe)
CaCO3, Phophate, Potassium, Nitrate and magnesium are dosed by themself as well, when needed.

I’m trying to dose small amount of Boron.

Seem to work for me, Better result than my 2 first try, still place for improvment.

My actual parameters
Ph=6.9 (upping CO2)
kh=20 mg/l
gh=180 mg/l (to high, want 120)
Ca=40 mg/l (to high, want 20)
Mg= 19.5 mg/l (to high, want 10)
NO3= 3 mg/l Ok want to go around 3 to 5
Po4= .25 mg/l (want to go up between .35 to .5
K= (dosed regulary)
Fe= .4 mg/l OK want .3 to .5

[tazcrash69]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

PPS is simpler for me because you mix everything together and every day you add 1ml or whatever of the stuff. It's like feeding the fish in routine.

You have to schedule with EI.

Dosing EI for me was just as easy as dosing PPS. All I did was put the required dry ferts into little containers. Every day dispense (as you said like feeding the Fish) alternating between Macros, and Micros, then once a week refill the containers.

My problems with EI are my own fault in not having the time every week to do a 50% water change on a 125 gallon tank in addition to the rapid growth pruning. When I had time to keep up, I held algae at bay.
I slipped.... I had issues.




$.02

[mistergreen]

what's the optimal Ca?
A lot of these methods leave out calcium.
My tap has 10ppm naturally according to waterworks.

I add a tablespoon of CaCl in my 500ml PMDD solution in hopes that'll help with my calcium problems.

[KDahlin]

I like the EI method, it's pretty straightforward. I wish there was a way around 50% water changes. I have three tanks which wastes a lot of water. I don't feel good about it. I'm reading in this last Newsweek about the scarcity of clean water in much of the rest of the world.

[mistergreen]

no garden for you to recycle the water? That's what I do. And our waters are special!