freshwest Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Im going to start using pmdd drops . The info i have read on the net talk about adding enough to keep Fe at 0.1ppm . Has anyone used a conductivity meter to help detect the fert levels in there tank and dose to keep at that level . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DubbieBoy Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi Freshwest, I think that, rather than attempt to measure actual fert concentrations, folks tend to estimate what the levels should be and aim for that, along with regular 50% water changes to prevent gradual buildup of ferts in the water column. This is known as the estimative index approach as put forward by Tom Barr. Its an approach I've been using with success, no algae to be seen whatsoever and lush plant growth. Two indispensible tools for this approach can be found at http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plan ... e_calc.htm and http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... ilator.php (you need to register to use this one...) These calculators tell you how much of each nutrient to dose to achieve a desired final concentration. The second link, the fertilator, is particularly useful as it sums the concentrations of individual components of each ingredient, i.e. if you're dosing KNO3, K2SO4 and KH2PO4 it will give you a final concentration for the Potassium arising from all three ferts. My own routine at the moment is to dose dry macronutrients in the form of KNO3, K2SO4, MgSO4 and KH2PO4 maybe once every 10 days to two weeks (for my 200l tank, I add 3/4 tspn of KNO3, 1/2 tspn K2SO4, 1/4 tspn MgSO4 and just a pinch of KH2PO4), with Seachem Flourish for trace elements (2ml) and Flourish Iron (3ml) weekly and a 50% water change monthly. This is lower dosing than many would suggest but it keeps the workload down a bit; I don't want the plants growing tooo fast as I just don't have the time for all the pruning and water changes... I don't see any sign of deficiencies. The plants are thriving, no algae troubles and my angels spawn every two weeks. Touch wood, all seems to be going well. Hope this might be of interest, Dubb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freshwest Posted May 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 Some very good info on those sites . Thanks for that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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