Dosing ferts for low-tech

[aquascaping1982]

Hi guys, currently I have a 3ft tank which is 48gallon with 2x55watts and running Eheim 2026 filter.

I have been doing low tech since 3 years ago till now but during the past I seldom dose dry or liquid ferts until now I find my storeroom with Seachem Excel, flourish and equilibrium plus Lush-gro KNO3, KH2PO4 and lush-gro aqua liquid. What should I dose for those dry & liquid ferts or should I said how to make full use of those ferts?

Last 2 weeks have been following Tom Barrs method, every week dosing of 1/4 KNO3 & 1/16 KH2PO4 and on top of that plus Seachem excel and flourish.

My flora in my tank are Java fern, Anubias, Echinodorus 'rose', Echinodorus parviflorus' Tropical', Echinodorus tenellus, Blyxa japonica, HC, Alternanthera reineckii 'rosaefolia', Crinum aquatica, Cryptocoryne 'balansae', Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Mi Oya', Aponogeton crispus, Nuphar japonica, Nymphaea lotus 'Red', Vallisneria spiralis 'Leopard' and lastly Glosso.

Thanks for the reply.

[Jervis]

Seems to me that you are dosing high-tech fertilizer regimen. With the absence of CO2 injection, you MAY end up fighting algae in the near future. But of course it all depends on how you balance everything, from dosing quantity to water change volume/frequency. Why not consider bringing it 1 small step towards high-tech? Your Echinodorus will reward you with trails of tiny bubble rising from their leaves/stems... a beautiful sight

[Shadow]

is your plant doing well? if so why change

For EI, it is important to do weekly water change otherwise those accumulated fertilizer will kill your fauna.

[aquascaping1982]

Seems to me that you are dosing high-tech fertilizer regimen. With the absence of CO2 injection, you MAY end up fighting algae in the near future. But of course it all depends on how you balance everything, from dosing quantity to water change volume/frequency. Why not consider bringing it 1 small step towards high-tech? Your Echinodorus will reward you with trails of tiny bubble rising from their leaves/stems... a beautiful sight

Hi Jervis, I not intending to inject CO2 due to busy with work so all these while have been doing low tech. From the past till now there is no major outbreak of algae so quite happy with low tech only thinking of how to dose so many ferts at once

[aquascaping1982]

is your plant doing well? if so why change

For EI, it is important to do weekly water change otherwise those accumulated fertilizer will kill your fauna.

Yes, plants are doing great especially echindorus & others, Maybe is because of the wonder-gro root tabs. Does EI applies to low tech too?

[Shadow]

The idea of EI is to give plant with abundant amount of nutrient (except ammonia) at the same time low enough for the fauna to survive. EI dosing is mainly benefit high light setup, however it can be adapted to low tech.

It a new idea (maybe not so new now ) that simplify fertilizer dosing

[aquascaping1982]

Hmmm didn't know that EI can also be adapted to low tech, so if using this method do I have to do water change every month? Basically low tech doesn't need to change water for months hee hee.

[Shadow]

well... it doesn't work that way. EI will require you to change water weekly due to excess nutrient. This excess nutrient will accumulate and become toxic to your fauna. There are some people who reported change once a month without problem but that depend on your luck

The amount of nutrient for each dose written on the EI document is just an example. It is a starting point but you still need to find tune depending on your plan mass.

That is why initially I said does your low tech have problem (nutrient deficiency)? If not, just leave it as it is.

[aquascaping1982]

I see, thanks for the input. I guess I just leave it be and it would take ages to finish using up those ferts

[illumnae]

Actually, Tom Barr came up with an EI for low tech tanks formula that he posted here before. Let me go find the link. It's basically dosing much less (10x less?) than the recommended EI amount and you don't have to do the weekly water changes required by full blown EI

[aquascaping1982]

Actually, Tom Barr came up with an EI for low tech tanks formula that he posted here before. Let me go find the link. It's basically dosing much less (10x less?) than the recommended EI amount and you don't have to do the weekly water changes required by full blown EI

Thanks bro for finding the link

[illumnae]

Unfortunately, he didn't post it here. Here's the link to the thread on his forum:

http://www.barrreport.com/estimative...2-methods.html

You will need to register to read it.

Basically, for a 20 gallon tank, he cuts down to dosing 1/4 tsp of Seachem Equilibrium (in place of trace elements + GH booster), 1/8 tsp of KNO3 and 1/32 tsp of KH2PO4 once every 1-2 weeks. No water changes. However, you must maintain a steady fish load and feeding routine as this will provide the rest of your N and P.

[blue33]

This is the Tom Barr low tech non CO2 dosing.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=13623

[aquascaping1982]

This is the Tom Barr low tech non CO2 dosing.

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=13623

Hi blue33, yup I have read this before and following his method till now. As I have other ferts as well so would like to make full use of those dry & liquid ferts. heehee

[Viper007]

I just wonder after keeping those Ferts regime for 3 years, is it still safe to use them?

Wonder if there are expiry on them.

[blue33]

They are just salt base. No issue on that.

[Shadow]

no issue, just keep it dry to be safe.