Raising nitrates and Phosphates safely

I read some where about Ei dosing add 8 ppm of nitrate per dose. I add 4ppm per dose. I think you just dose as usual and do 50% water change to reset nutrient level . Then you will maintain your nitrate at a certain range. Example if I dosing 4ppm X 3 times per week, my nitrate level will range from 12 ppm to 24 ppm between water change( this calculation assume there is no production and consumption of nitrate)

Pps Pro Dose differently compare with ei. In pps Pro, they dose 1ppm of nitrate per day. I only read one article which say "no water change or large water change)
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John Wong said:

I read some where about Ei dosing add 8 ppm of nitrate per dose. I add 4ppm per dose. I think you just dose as usual and do 50% water change to reset nutrient level . Then you will maintain your nitrate at a certain range. Example if I dosing 4ppm X 3 times per week, my nitrate level will range from 12 ppm to 24 ppm between water change( this calculation assume there is no production and consumption of nitrate)

Pps Pro Dose differently compare with ei. In pps Pro, they dose 1ppm of nitrate per day. I only read one article which say "no water change or large water change)
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You are correct about the PPS-PRO DOSE of 1ml daily. I also read that PO4 comes out to 1ml daily. If I am only using Half dose, then each of those are just .5 ml. I really don't want to add another supplement to make up for those two. Maybe I should just start over and go EI? I bought everything from GLA. if I changed to EI, would I have to buy anything else or is it all the same?

The alternative would be to use a full dose of PPS-PRO but take a look at the photo. A full dose is supposed to be based on a heavily planted tank. Does that tank look heavily planted now? I'm guessing no. Maybe the EI system would be better for my nitrates and phosphates.

Not sure about your tank, but I normally do 50% weekly water change. So for me ei seems better for me. However I only dose half of ei in my tank, if I dose full ei algae will become uncontrollable.
My tank 15G extra long and shallow. Fully covered by plants but no tall stem plant.

Personally I follow part of EI, most part of my dosing scheme customized according to my plants reaction.

I think AT FIRST GLANCE the difference between pss Pro and ei is that ei give nutrient in abundance and maintain at certain level through water change while pps pro provide just enough and thus no need to do large water change.

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How are you getting 0 nitrates?

A cycled tank with fish in should show some nitrates.

Are you using the API test kit? They are notorious for showing 0 nitrates in a cycled tank.

You really and I mean REALLY have to shake the reagent bottles to get a somewhat correct reading.

If you truly have "0" NO3 & "0" PO4 you could dose the tank over 2 or 3 days.
Bring NO3 up to 10ppm & PO4 up to 1ppm, this meets the 10:1 ratio.
Test it again in a week or so, you may only need to add ferts once a week or two.
At least get levels up and then determine schedule based on usage.

ichy said:

How are you getting 0 nitrates?

A cycled tank with fish in should show some nitrates.

Are you using the API test kit? They are notorious for showing 0 nitrates in a cycled tank.

You really and I mean REALLY have to shake the reagent bottles to get a somewhat correct reading.

Click to expand...

They are zero and I calibrated both the Nitrate and Phosphate test kits to be sure. The images were off a bit s but still measurable.

I will try a full dose of PPS-pro for a few days and see if there is any difference. John Wong, unless I have something incorrect, PPS-Pro is very similar to EI in that it still over fertilizes the tank and requires a 50% W/C each week. The PPS Classic is the limiting schedule.