I totally agree
@tiger15. There are errors with many of the tools we use and most everything is a proxy for a general idea - with the livestock and plants as the true tell all - which lead me to <
here>
I use a pH probe in the center of the tank; I used a drop checker on top and bottom; I used drop checkers on either side. For the first time <
things are going well> ... yipee!
Here would be a 5 day pH profile with a water change and smooth transitions up and down.
PS the time stamp isn't accurate LOL.
🤣
Today at lights on my dual drop checkers read like I mentioned in <
this post> as I try to zero in on a better proxy as I too struggle with the color identification from a single inaccurate DC. Bromothymol is narrow range but it isn't so narrow when you are trying to troubleshoot potential issues in the tank. Certainly, this indicates to me that I can shave time off of my 4 hour before lights on ... and I will shave it off slowly.
The fear of reducing the CO2 and dropping into the BBA zone (15-20 ppm) ... although I think that zone can be completely mitigated with the use of a non-EI dosing and strategy whilst reducing the CO2 demand by limiting other primary nutrients. But I dose EI - my hopes and I want to see what happens is that if I can be certain of my CO2 conc (within reason of course) with the dual proxies (and reading it properly, albeit consistency in my reading is (in-tank or out of tank) is more important), then I can lean out my dosing regime and see what actually happens - in search of the true balance of the tank. Alternatively, maybe I can play with the lights and get more light ... Why? Who knows! Slightly crazy perhaps 🤣.
It is very easy to say that you don't need so much light when you have harnessed the ability to use high light.
My next post will probably be in fertilizations where I am going to start thinking about nutrients differently - but that's for another day.
Josh