Low Tech Ei

[Keys_Tanks]

Hi guys!

In my low tech tank I’m having some signs of die off in my java ferns I personally think it’s cause I’ve not dosed ferts in nearly a year!
I think the plants have been pretty good until the past 3 ish months, I think it’s been running purely off fish waste for plant food.

So this tank gets a good maintenance routine done every 2 weeks.
So I would like some form of ei ferts I can use with my autodosers so I never forget, But if I did overrun a water change by a week it wouldn’t be enough to cause problems.

Would anyone be able to help me with this ?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[PARAGUAY]

Suggest take off any old dying leafs,don't worry new ones will grow back, try a all in one like Tropica Specialised or TNC Complete dosing weekly should be fine, l have found my javas like a little flow

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

it’s cause I’ve not dosed ferts in nearly a year!

Because I don't regularly add nutrients I had one extended time period when I didn't add any fertilisers, purely <"because the floating plants never indicated"> that they were grossly deficient <"in any particular nutrient"> (or in all the nutrients generally). It has never happened since, and I don't know where the "extra" nutrients came from (I'm a rainwater user).

Suggest take off any old dying leafs,don't worry new ones will grow back, try a all in one like Tropica Specialised or TNC Complete dosing weekly should be fine

Same for me, give them a trim and then start adding a <"complete fertiliser">. In terms of <"how much to dose"> you could use <"some fraction of EI dosing"> (1/4?) or you could use the <"Duckweed Index">.

If you don't care how quickly they grow you can keep Ferns, Anubias, Mosses etc in water that is basically RO with a trace of nutrients, as long as you have all of the essential nutrients.

I just want to keep my plants in growth, I don't want them growing quickly and I keep a limited range of "low light" plants. Because of this I can use the Duckweed Index, my duckweed (usually Limnobium) has access to atmospheric CO2, and it will grow across a wide range of water conditions. As long as I keep the Limnobium in growth I have enough nutrients for the submerged plants.

cheers Darrel

 

[_Maq_]

Would anyone be able to help me with this ?

I've observed your photos diligently and haven't noticed any sign of any nutrient deficiency.
Don't change what works well.

 

[Keys_Tanks]

nutrients came from (I'm a rainwater user).

Hi @dw1305 this interests me a lot actually... is this an alternative to RO?
I heard of people using it but never been able to ask questions.

I have have had thoughts about setting up a water butt on my shed... and possibly utilising 25-50% for water changes to make my water less hard (my water is like liquid rock haha!)
if you wouldn't mind telling me a little bit of how you use the rainwater and how it affects your setups.

Thanks
Josh

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Hi @dw1305 this interests me a lot actually... is this an alternative to RO?
I heard of people using it but never been able to ask questions.

Loosely "yes". I honestly don't think there is a <"downside to rainwater use">. It isn't quite an alternative to RO., purely because it still <"contains some solutes">, but it will be a lot softer (less alkaline) than most <"people's tap water">.

People have concerns about pollutants, but I've used rainwater without serious mishap since the 1970s and I would regard it as safer than tap water. A lot of serious aquarists still <"actually use rainwater">.

...... I saw <"Nick Ridout"> recently, and he told me that I was the person who originally put him on to using rain-water, although I don't remember this.

I have have had thoughts about setting up a water butt on my shed... and possibly utilising 25-50% for water changes to make my water less hard (my water is like liquid rock haha!)

Perfect. I'd actually <"get two butts"> and <"daisy chain them together">. The connector need to be <"low down on the butt">.

cheers Darrel