EI Method: Calculation Amount (Advice Needed)

[zysfer]

Hi All,

Recently adopted the Barr's EI method. My Tank is approximately 200L(50Gal), good dosage more than 30ppm of pressurized CO2, light is 4Wpg, filter 2028.

Based on Barr's recommendation
40-60 Gallon Aquariums
+/- 1/2 tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/8 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- 3/4 tsp GH booster once a week(water change only)
+/- 1/8 (10ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change

I went to do a calculation on Fertilator, with input 0.5 tsp of KNO3 and 0.125 tsp KH2PO4 based on the above, the result is 7.97ppm for NO3 and 2.44ppm for PO4 per dosage.

Is the amount accurate based on the EI target ranges that we try to achieve? Please advise.

CO2 range 25-35 ppm
NO3 range 10-30 ppm
K+ range 10-30 ppm
PO4 range 1.0-2.0 ppm
Fe 0.2-0.5ppm or higher
GH range 1-2 degrees "extra" 17-40 ppm or higher

[zyblack]

Well E.I. mean Estimative Index so it is more a rough guide on how much to dose. If you wish you can dose more KNO3 but if you do feed your fish heavily then you could stay with the 1/2 teaspoon of KNO3. By the way, I think the NO3 range should be should be 5-30 ppm and not 10-30ppm.

You don't have to follow right down to 0.00001 ppm since there is a lot of variables in your tank which makes accuracy difficult. If you have a lot of fish and you feed heavily, then can dose less KNO3. If only plants and no fish? Then maybe dose a tad more KNO3. So just dose around the guideline and you won't go far wrong. Remember to do the 50% water changes every week though.

Have fun with your hobby and try not to make it a nightmare.

[zysfer]

Thanks for reply.

I'm kind of confuse as EI dosing method is roughly 3 times per week. If the estimate range is base weekly, base on the amount of dosing above, will I be over dosing for my tank?

Best Regards
Edwin