FISHnLAB
Member
Hi guys, I recently started my first planted tank and could use a hand with my nutrition. I'm not getting enough Nitrates or phosphates and am looking for advice on the best way to handle it.
Here's some info about my setup and routines...
Tank - 3 Gallon Rimless
Lighting - Nicrew RGB+W 24/7
Filtration - 3-Stage In Tank Power Filter(with mix of 3 types of biomedia) & 1 x small Air Stone
Soil & Fert - Seachem Flourite Black infused with API Root Tabs.
Water Column Ferts- The 2HR Aquarist APT 3 & Seachem Flourish Advance(both daily)
Hardscape - Mountain Stone & Spider Wood
Let me know if you need anything else.
So, it has been 16 days since I planted and today is day 7 since a water change. I have been monitoring levels and everything looks good for the most part(aside from Nitrate and phosphate). The tank was running as an unplanted setup so it was pre-cycled for the most part(re-used filter & biomedia and didn't clean tank). Today is water change day and I just did some testing for Nitrates, Phosphates, and TDS. Results were as follows...
Temperature - 26.2C
Tap Water TDS - 45ppm
Tank Water TDS - 132ppm
NO3 - 0(or close to it)
PO4 - 0(or close to it)
This was the first time I went to a 7 day water change. I was doing one twice a week before that. Originally I was water column dosing API Leaf Zone but, switched to APT 3 one week ago to try and bring up N03 & PO4 levels. Obviously it didn't work. I get low levels of both a couple hours after dosing but, 0ppm the next day before the scheduled dose.
So, what should I do guys? I'm thinking about switching to ATP E instead as it has much higher levels of NO3 & PO4 but, know that consistency is best. The other option is getting a bottle of Seachem Flourish Phosphorus & Nitrogen to supplement the APT 3. I'm not sure what to do as I am too inexperienced. So, any help would be greatly appreciated. I can provide more pictures and whatever other info is needed. Thanks in advance👍.
Here's some info about my setup and routines...
Tank - 3 Gallon Rimless
Lighting - Nicrew RGB+W 24/7
Filtration - 3-Stage In Tank Power Filter(with mix of 3 types of biomedia) & 1 x small Air Stone
Soil & Fert - Seachem Flourite Black infused with API Root Tabs.
Water Column Ferts- The 2HR Aquarist APT 3 & Seachem Flourish Advance(both daily)
Hardscape - Mountain Stone & Spider Wood
Let me know if you need anything else.
So, it has been 16 days since I planted and today is day 7 since a water change. I have been monitoring levels and everything looks good for the most part(aside from Nitrate and phosphate). The tank was running as an unplanted setup so it was pre-cycled for the most part(re-used filter & biomedia and didn't clean tank). Today is water change day and I just did some testing for Nitrates, Phosphates, and TDS. Results were as follows...
Temperature - 26.2C
Tap Water TDS - 45ppm
Tank Water TDS - 132ppm
NO3 - 0(or close to it)
PO4 - 0(or close to it)
This was the first time I went to a 7 day water change. I was doing one twice a week before that. Originally I was water column dosing API Leaf Zone but, switched to APT 3 one week ago to try and bring up N03 & PO4 levels. Obviously it didn't work. I get low levels of both a couple hours after dosing but, 0ppm the next day before the scheduled dose.
So, what should I do guys? I'm thinking about switching to ATP E instead as it has much higher levels of NO3 & PO4 but, know that consistency is best. The other option is getting a bottle of Seachem Flourish Phosphorus & Nitrogen to supplement the APT 3. I'm not sure what to do as I am too inexperienced. So, any help would be greatly appreciated. I can provide more pictures and whatever other info is needed. Thanks in advance👍.
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