Dosing for Low Maintenance Tanks

[Sleepy_lancs]

Hi All,

Just to do a quick check to ensure what I understand is correct:

For all Low Maintenance Tank (Non-CO2)

We add weekly 1/4 tsp of SeaChem EQ, 1/8 tsp of KNO3 & 1/32 tsp of KH2PO4 per 20 US Gal tank?

That would mean that for 100 Gal tank consisting of 1/5 of Java ferns and 4/5 of crypt with peat moss and JBL Aquabasis Plus as base fertiliser will be 1.25 tsp of EQ, 0.625 tsp of KNO3 and 0.156 tsp of KH2PO4 weekly? Lighting is 4 x 55watts PL Lights for 8 hours

Would that be the same dosing bases for a 43 Gal tank consisting of all nanas with only JBL Aquabasis Plus as based fertiliser? EQ = 1/2 tsp, KN03 = 1/4 tsp, KH2PO4=1/16 weekly? Lighting is 2 x 30 watts FL Lights for 10 hours.

And I do not add addition Fe or trace?

Any other things that I should take note?

Thanks in advance

[Sleepy_lancs]

Errr... no one doing low maintenance without wc????
Anyone can help?

[|squee|]

Only Tom Barr can give you a definite answer. To me though, the dosing sounds alright. I dose trace weekly too, about 1 squirt of Ferka Aquatilizer. More doesn't hurt I guess.

If you start getting BBA issues (usually on plants directly under the lights), try lowering your light level or get floating plants to block off some light. I've had that issue and Tom says it's got to do with CO2 uptake rates with respect to light. I got myself some floating plants and the issue went away.

[PeterGwee]

PC lights packs more intensity at the same wattage vs T12 bulbs. The W/G rule for non-CO2 tanks are based off T12 bulbs and not PC or T5.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[Sleepy_lancs]

Well, progress report for this week.

Bad on the 100 GAL tank. I found BBA growing on plants near to the windows. I have started putting some floating plants. Will update you guys in a mth's time.

Okay on the 43 GAL tank. Plants are growing well. Experiencing the green dots on the wall as expected.

[grey_fox]

I normally don't dose my low tech tank, only water top ups and a "once-in-a-while" dumping in of fertilizers.

So far for that low-tech, there's no sign of algae, plants growing slow but algae growing even slower.

[mordrake]

for my 6ft non co2 tank with 150W mh (4 hrs), i dose the following twice a week;

1. kno3 20ppm
2. po4 1ppm
3. seachem equil, 2.5g
4. dr mallick's macros and micros

water change once a month at about 20%.
plants are lots of java ferns, windeluv, amazon swords, varies crypts, e tenellus, blyxa japonica, anubias.
was dosing the above only once a week but the swords were not looking too happy. after doubling the ferts, everything looks much better now.

very very slow bba growth on the tank glass directly under the mh light that's easily cleared during monthly WC.
but now hardly a need ever since i put in 14 baby SAEs

oh yah, have the following fishes;

1 x 14inch aro
14 x SAE
2 x kribs
8 x angelfish
4 x cardinals
20++ x cories
1 x 6inch bristlenose
4 x otos
1 x redline torpedo
1 x ram

[grey_fox]

Nice Melvin, I can picture your tank.

*side track, won't the SAEs be an ikan bilis snack for your aro?

[mordrake]

will post my crappy tank in aquascape section

[retro1983]

will post my crappy tank in aquascape section

Hope to see it soon...