[Mjmaverick]

Wondering when best time to fertilize and if the plan I have in mind is a good one or not.

If I don't fertilize at about 5:30 in the morning the next opportunity to do so would be at around 5:30 in the evening.

Is it a good idea to say, have the lights come on at 5:30am until 8am? Fertilize at or around 5:30am? Lights off at 8am and back on from noon until 8pm? Or just have the lights on at around 10am until 8pm and fertilize in the evening?

My tank is a 55 gallon tank, dosing EI, using pressurized CO2 with a Aquaticlife 2x54 T5HO fixture about 18 inches from the substrate.

 

[Rob in (ca)]

I have always fert right after my 50% weekly water change & my plants are growing out of my tank, can't say it's the correct way, but it's working for me.

Good luck

 

[rcs0926]

I don't think it matters as long as you fertilize when the lights are off and allow the ferts to be distributed around your tank. I normally try to fertilize in the morning before I go to work because my lights go off from about 7:30am to 3pm. If I miss that window, then I'll just fertilize when the lights turn off after 9pm.

 

[xxxSHyXAxxx]

it doesn't matter. just do it kind of around the same timeish. if the ferts are there the plants will use them. if you anticipate it to be easier to do it early most days of the week then do it then. if it's easier to do it at night before bed do it then. whatever works best for your schedule. I think it's more important to time the water change correctly so that you wont put your does in at night but the next morning you do a water change. you would pretty much just waste most of the last dose.

 

[Diana]

The timing is not so critical.
The important thing is to be consistent. So whenever is the best time for you, schedule it then.

There may be minor benefits to dosing at certain times, but if trying to follow such a schedule is going to result in missed doses and irregular dosing, then do not bother.

A stable schedule is better than an optimum schedule; there is not that much benefit to dosing at certain times.

However:
Light can break down certain forms of fertilizer (Chelated minerals). If you can dose these in the evening then they tend to last longer, be available to the plants longer.
Excel breaks down, too, but is best used by the plants in the daytime, so AM dosing seems to be best.

Repeat: These are such minor benefits that a regular schedule will be more important.