Help Requested for Fe + trace dosing

[Sleepy_lancs]

Tank Conditions as follows:

Size: 4ft x 2ft x 2ft (Water hight less 3 inches from top)

Substrate: Seachem mixed with black gravel (covering about 3inches)

PH = 7.0
KH = 5
N03= 10 ppm
NH4 = 0
PO4 = 0.1
Temp = 29.5 to 31 deg cel
light = 354 watts x 12 hours
co2 = 3 bubbles into reactor

Water changes: twice a week of 15G

Iron plus trace mixture contains (bought from Dr Mallock as alot of you suggested [:] ):
5.8% FE, 2.3% Mn, 1.3% Zn, 1.05% B, 0.25% Cu, 0.24% Mo, 0.03% Co

Target as follows:

Fe = 0.1 ppm

I've got my iron mixture into 1 litre of water. Its just that I don't know how to calculate the quatity per day to be added to my tank. Plus I have UV lighting on for 2 hours per day after the tank lights are off.

How much of the iron + trace mix should I put into the tank per day?

[Kingfisher]

Are you referring to the LUSHGro-MICROS?

[bttay]

I use LushGrow Micro too.
I keep the iron at 0.1-0.2ppm. In my small tank of about 15 litres, I just add 8 drops every two days. It works well.

[Sleepy_lancs]

Hi,

I bought the Rexolin APN. or did I get it wrong again. I wanted only the FE + Trace mixture. Didn't want the Macro nutrients. Is there anyone using it?

[geoffrey]

I use Rexolin, email me and I will send you a spreadsheet.

[geoffrey]

BTW, UV is not good for chelated Fe.

[juggler]

PO4 at 0.1ppm? That's very low.
Can raise it closer to 1.0ppm with observation.

[Sleepy_lancs]

Hi geoffrey,

Thanks for the advice. I know UV isn't good for the FE mixture thats why I need to dose regularly (as in daily). The UV is turn on for 2 hours per night and am trying to reduce it to 1 hour per night. [:]

Hi juggler,

Wouldn't 1.0 ppm of phosphate create more algae problem for me? Seems to me 0.1 seems plenty. Any good advice that you could base this on? sorry about the question, my tank is now like a algae farm

[geoffrey]

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On 11/4/2003 5:41:16 PM

Wouldn't 1.0 ppm of phosphate create more algae problem for me? Seems to me 0.1 seems plenty. Any good advice that you could base this on? sorry about the question, my tank is now like a algae farm

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On the contrary PO4 is doing more good for some of us than harm. I know it's hard to accept with so much literatures saying otherwise. You have to try to believe. That is all I can offer.

[theodore]

1ppm of PO4 is not high at all. I have to dose 2-3ppm of PO4 for one of my tanks (4.5W/Gal) each week just to stop PO4 from dropping to zero.

Dosing daily can tire you out very fast (trust me, I tried that out before). Besides, what happens should you decide to go overseas for a week? Consider running your tank without the UV filter and dosing 1-2x per week if you want to have more time appreciating your tank instead of fiddling with it.

[Sleepy_lancs]

Okay. Looks like I need to get some P04 into my tank. Ha! I can finally put fishes in my tank and feed them. T

hanks. Now, the Fe problem isn't resolved yet. Any ideas? Should I increase my Fe? I am currently stop dosing my Fe because of algae

[geoffrey]

Never, never stop dosing something in the fight again algae. It's futile. Algae's needs are much, much lesser than plants. What you are doing is simply denying your plants essential nutrient to grow. Keeping plants healthy should be the way to go.

[juggler]

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On 11/4/2003 5:41:16 PM

Hi geoffrey,

Thanks for the advice. I know UV isn't good for the FE mixture thats why I need to dose regularly (as in daily). The UV is turn on for 2 hours per night and am trying to reduce it to 1 hour per night. [:]

Hi juggler,

Wouldn't 1.0 ppm of phosphate create more algae problem for me? Seems to me 0.1 seems plenty. Any good advice that you could base this on? sorry about the question, my tank is now like a algae farm

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Plants need P as it is a macro nutrient in addition to N and K.
Read this very relevant article A List of Recommended Levels and Parameters by Tom Barr.

Myself, I dose 1.5ppm of PO4 per week (in 2 separate doses of 0.75ppm each) and still measure about 0.5ppm before water change. Advice is to measure and dose accordingly. You can try 0.5ppm per week to see if things improves. Then later you may like to dose that level twice a week if needed.

[letissier07]

Hi
May i know what do u all use to dose PO4?
Took me a while to realise lushgro aqua does not have P in it...[]
Maybe tell me where to get them too?
Saw that SingaporeHydroponics have them but they sell in 1 KG!!
Thanks in advance!

Spencer

[Sleepy_lancs]

Hiya,

I am currently using Seachem flourish Phosphous or you could throw in some extra fish food which will contain phosphate too. Before adding PO4, please check and ensure you really need them before adding.