EI for non-CO2 enriched excel dosed tank

[gemo82]

I am starting a small tank with a rug of HC and moss. Tank volume is around 8.5 litres and lighting is 11 watts. Started the tank with the dry-start method and intending to flood the tank soon, before more fungi start attacking.

Is the light too strong for my tank size to do a non-CO2 enriched tank? If so, I will have to shift the light further or shield it to limit the light...

Is there a list of parameters I can follow using EI to dose fertilisers for the low-tech tank? For my high-tech tank, I am aiming at a weekly dosing of:

NO3: 30ppm
K: 30ppm
PO4: 2ppm
Mg: 10ppm
Fe: 0.5ppm

Is there a similar list of parameters, or a ratio to maximum uptake rate, which I can follow for the above non-CO2 enriched tank? If I am going to dose with Excel, do I dose following the recommended amount, or more? For water changes, how often do I need to do it, and how much percent of tank water each time?

Sorry for the tonne of questions and I hope someone can advise on these. I know estimative index is supposed to be estimative, but still I hope for some numbers as a reference as I do not intend to do water tests to determine the uptake rates, and also do not wish to limit the plants in any nutrient.

Thanks again for any help.

[AquaObsession]

you will have to do more water change, thus with the WC you will lose Co2 etc. That is why EI not recommended for Non-CO2 enriched tank. Or you can doze 1/5 to 1/10 the normal EI doze / or doze every 1-2 week in small amount as well. Read article on Non-CO2 setup.

[gemo82]

Yes I have read quite a number of articles on non-CO2 setup, including Diana's and Tom Barr's. I think I understand the basics of it, just need some figures to rely on to make the first move.

I thought WC adds CO2 to a non-CO2 enriched tank instead? And that is not good if done too frequently as it fluctuates the CO2 level in the tank.

Maybe I will just try double the recommended excel dosing, with half of EI fertiliser dosing per week, and adjust accordingly from there...

[Plantbrain]

Excel dose will be a hybrid method, maybe 1 x a month a month water change, dose about 1/4 of typical EI.

Math is similar to EI this way,
50% water change 1x a month
Total dosing is same over that same water change frequency(1x a month instead of 1 x a week)

You need to dose Excel daily though.
Dose the EI 1/4 2x a week.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[herns]

Excel dose will be a hybrid method, maybe 1 x a month a month water change, dose about 1/4 of typical EI.

Math is similar to EI this way,
50% water change 1x a month
Total dosing is same over that same water change frequency(1x a month instead of 1 x a week)

You need to dose Excel daily though.
Dose the EI 1/4 2x a week.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Hi Tom,

Besides Seachem's Excel cures all my algae problems and a good plant growth for 4 years now, what is the difference between Excel and CO2 injection?

[Plantbrain]

About 4x faster growth with CO2, less cost, no daily dosing...to name just a few.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Shadow]

Just curious, does plant selectively able to select which carbon source to use first? For example if both excel and CO2 available, will plant take CO2 first follow by excel or it will take both at the same time?

I read somewhere (can remember where) that plant need to convert excel to more usable form before using it. That will explain why it is 4 time slower, because the energy to grow was use up to convert excel to usable form. Not sure how true.