hi clive
thanks for the feedback
i am using ei ferts as per your example in the dry dose article
i made it up as a solution and dose as per the article
Sunday – 50% or more Water Change then dose macros
Monday – traces
Tuesday - macros
Wednesday - traces
Thursday - macros
Friday – Rest
Saturday - Rest
NPK (Nitrogen + Phosphorus + Potassium) Mixture for 20 Gallon Tank
1 month = 4 Weeks
3 doses of NPK per week
Therefore there are 12 doses of NPK per month
Multiply a single dose teaspoon value by 12 => [3/16 tsp KNO3]*12 = 2 ¼ tsp KNO3
[1/16 tsp KH2PO4]*12 = ¾ tsp KH2PO4
[1/2 tsp MgSO4]*12 = 6 tsp MgSO4
Add these to 600ml of tap or distilled water
i cant guarantee human error has never occured when i made up the mixes
but was quite careful!
regarding the bga, it not spreading and when removed its not coming back
my first tank was engulfed in it and if removed it would be back en mass within days,
i have not removed it all due to disturbing my hc, but will do so, as its inevitable
regarding lighting, i am running the 2 x 20w t8s from 1pm to 11pm,
i did try a three hour period with the 2 x 24w compacts on as well for a couple of days
to see if it would kick off my hc, but it didnt do much
co2: goes on at 12pm an hour before lights, drop checker is dark green
by about 4pm it turns to the lime green colour and at about 8pm it gets yellowish
co2 goes off at 10pm, an hour before lights
(hand on heart, i have not monitored the dropchecker scientifically though)
circulation: i made up a spraybar for my 1200lph internal
and added a small powerhead at the front bottom corner which is also
chomping up the co2 from a diffuser and sending it across the length of the tank at the front bottom,
this is working better due to plant movement and the tiny co2 bubbles are visible in the tank
and being distributed well at substrate level
you might actually be able to clarify something for me also,
i have a carpet of what looks like tiny co2 bubbles on the surface towards the end of the day,
is this okay? lots of my uprooted hc is floating around in it,
i believe that surface agitation is not great for co2 tanks as it dispels co2
so will i just leave it there
a couple of things may or may not be worth noting.
i only got a decent few plants in it in the last few days
as advised by yourself i had very low biomass,
also my circulation improvement is only in the last couple of days also
lastly, it will get a w/c tonight but my nitrates are 50ppm in the new tank,
if that says anything?
i have otos in my established tank earmarked for the new tank
when the time is right
many thanks as always
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