So I've been doing a bit of reading on fertilizers recently, and am very aware of the popularity of the EI method.
I have a couple of concerns though, that stem from my stocklist of cherry shrimp and minnows/tetras, as follows:
1) With shrimp being especially sensitive to copper, the trace elements; though quite necessary for optimal plant growth and health, worry me in the same tank as the shrimp.
2) With the high volume of nitrates being dosed weekly, and their corresponding large water change at the end of the week. I can understand the logic, i.e. bomb the plants with more than enough nutrients so that their growth is maximised, however I'd have thought a nitrate ppm of around 10 would suffice both plants and fish no? Since the plants will still have nitrate available? Thus water changes would likely become lower? I'm not a big fan of changing more than 30% a week, not through laziness; more to avoid shocking tank inhabitants.
Hopefully this doesn't sound too daft, I'm still very much learning here. Right now, my plan would be to stock up on dry ferts including potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, magnesium sulphate, potassium sulphate; some calcium and iron alongside some liquid carbon. I'll also purchase trace chelates, but again the copper content would have me dosing sparingly.
So I guess what I'm really probing for here are thoughts on this, whether I can dose the above in a manner that will be safe for both shrimp and fish; in the full knowledge that it may yield slower growth...I don't currently have any advanced type of plants on my wishlist so far, if that helps.
Looking at the dry ferts, it recommends mixing a 500ml solution; does anyone do this and how do they store it? for how long? Assuming the solutions "go bad" after around a month, i guess the simple solution is to mix a couple of weeks worth at a time only?
Thanks all
I have a couple of concerns though, that stem from my stocklist of cherry shrimp and minnows/tetras, as follows:
1) With shrimp being especially sensitive to copper, the trace elements; though quite necessary for optimal plant growth and health, worry me in the same tank as the shrimp.
2) With the high volume of nitrates being dosed weekly, and their corresponding large water change at the end of the week. I can understand the logic, i.e. bomb the plants with more than enough nutrients so that their growth is maximised, however I'd have thought a nitrate ppm of around 10 would suffice both plants and fish no? Since the plants will still have nitrate available? Thus water changes would likely become lower? I'm not a big fan of changing more than 30% a week, not through laziness; more to avoid shocking tank inhabitants.
Hopefully this doesn't sound too daft, I'm still very much learning here. Right now, my plan would be to stock up on dry ferts including potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, magnesium sulphate, potassium sulphate; some calcium and iron alongside some liquid carbon. I'll also purchase trace chelates, but again the copper content would have me dosing sparingly.
So I guess what I'm really probing for here are thoughts on this, whether I can dose the above in a manner that will be safe for both shrimp and fish; in the full knowledge that it may yield slower growth...I don't currently have any advanced type of plants on my wishlist so far, if that helps.
Looking at the dry ferts, it recommends mixing a 500ml solution; does anyone do this and how do they store it? for how long? Assuming the solutions "go bad" after around a month, i guess the simple solution is to mix a couple of weeks worth at a time only?
Thanks all