Miss Pennyapple
Member
Hi all, I'm thinking about upping the amount of NPK I currently add to my tank and wanted to get some advice from you guys whether or not you think this is a good idea.
Set-up and current ferts dosing;
165L tank
10 x Rummy Nose Tetra, 10 x X Ray Tetra
pH 5/5.5, very soft water
25 degrees c
Lighting period 5 1/2 hours
Total lighting 70w
Planting; 5 x Amazon Sword Bleheri, 3 x Amazon Sword Ozelot, 2 x Amazon Sword Midi Fleur, 1 x Aponogeton Boivinianus, 3 x Ceratopteris thalictroides, 1 x Crinum Calamistratum
Day 1: 5ml NPK
Day 2: 16 pumps Tropica Premium Microferts
Day 3: 2.5ml Easy Carbo
Day 4: 5ml NPK
Day 5: Nothing
Day 6: 5ml NPK
Day 7: 2.5ml Easy Carbo
Day 8: Nothing
Day 9: 2.5ml Easy Carbo
Day 10: 50 % water change, Day 1 ferts begin again
Up until recently I'd been making an educated guess on how much NPK to add based on stocking levels, plants, lighting, algae growth etc. However, I use JBL macroferts and they have just recently added a daily dosage guide to the box. Apparently, I should be adding approx 27ml of NPK over 9 days (3ml per day). I'm currently only adding 15ml over 9 days (5ml three times).
I think some plants are showing signs of nitrate deficiency - very slow/poor growth, new leaves transparent and small, the odd brown patch on a leaf here and there. I've had the Ceratopteris since February and growth is very very slow. I recently increased the NPK from twice a week to the current three times a week and I've seen some improved growth on the Ceratopteris since then, but not a huge amount given this is meant to be a very fast growing plant. The Crinum has grown huge in the past months since I got it but I recently gave up on some Amazon Sword Bleheri's I'd had for a year or so as growth was so slow and tiny and they were just an algae magnet (BBA). I threw them out and replaced them with new Bleheri's as the tank planting needed some height again.
So, question is - do you guys think it's sensible to increase NPK to 27-30ml (I approximate 165L tank actually holds 150L ish) and see what effect that has on plant growth? Would it be safe for the fish to add this amount in 3 doses over 9 days? Any other comments/advice on my dosing regime would be appreciated.
I've attached a photo of the tank as it currently is. The big swords on the right were only added two weeks ago so I assume are going through a period of adjustment still.
Thanks very much all.
Set-up and current ferts dosing;
165L tank
10 x Rummy Nose Tetra, 10 x X Ray Tetra
pH 5/5.5, very soft water
25 degrees c
Lighting period 5 1/2 hours
Total lighting 70w
Planting; 5 x Amazon Sword Bleheri, 3 x Amazon Sword Ozelot, 2 x Amazon Sword Midi Fleur, 1 x Aponogeton Boivinianus, 3 x Ceratopteris thalictroides, 1 x Crinum Calamistratum
Day 1: 5ml NPK
Day 2: 16 pumps Tropica Premium Microferts
Day 3: 2.5ml Easy Carbo
Day 4: 5ml NPK
Day 5: Nothing
Day 6: 5ml NPK
Day 7: 2.5ml Easy Carbo
Day 8: Nothing
Day 9: 2.5ml Easy Carbo
Day 10: 50 % water change, Day 1 ferts begin again
Up until recently I'd been making an educated guess on how much NPK to add based on stocking levels, plants, lighting, algae growth etc. However, I use JBL macroferts and they have just recently added a daily dosage guide to the box. Apparently, I should be adding approx 27ml of NPK over 9 days (3ml per day). I'm currently only adding 15ml over 9 days (5ml three times).
I think some plants are showing signs of nitrate deficiency - very slow/poor growth, new leaves transparent and small, the odd brown patch on a leaf here and there. I've had the Ceratopteris since February and growth is very very slow. I recently increased the NPK from twice a week to the current three times a week and I've seen some improved growth on the Ceratopteris since then, but not a huge amount given this is meant to be a very fast growing plant. The Crinum has grown huge in the past months since I got it but I recently gave up on some Amazon Sword Bleheri's I'd had for a year or so as growth was so slow and tiny and they were just an algae magnet (BBA). I threw them out and replaced them with new Bleheri's as the tank planting needed some height again.
So, question is - do you guys think it's sensible to increase NPK to 27-30ml (I approximate 165L tank actually holds 150L ish) and see what effect that has on plant growth? Would it be safe for the fish to add this amount in 3 doses over 9 days? Any other comments/advice on my dosing regime would be appreciated.
I've attached a photo of the tank as it currently is. The big swords on the right were only added two weeks ago so I assume are going through a period of adjustment still.
Thanks very much all.