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Good growth yes, zero algae no.----------------
On 11/12/2003 4:55:20 PM
Is there a optimum ratio of these major nutrients for best growth and zero algae?
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Read these
Is there a optimum ratio of these major nutrients for best growth and zero algae?
Good growth yes, zero algae no.----------------
On 11/12/2003 4:55:20 PM
Is there a optimum ratio of these major nutrients for best growth and zero algae?
----------------
Read these
Keep the macros N03 to the <5> ppm range and you will be fine keep PO4 to the 0.5-1 ppm range. Make sure enough traces plus iron are around with a wide range micro fert plus iron. What is of most importance is consistency in dosing (not to let nutrien deplete or overdose).
And the algae will be goe in no time.
When can I start dosing the fertilzer after starting up the tank? I was told to wait at least two weeks later then add them in.
Corydoras: 2 x adolfoi, 1 x agassizii, 5 x albino aeneus, 3 x arcuatus, 4 x atropersonatus, 3 x axelrodi, 6 x axelrodi variante B, 4 x caudimaculatus, 5 x duplicareus, 8 x goldlines, 3 x kanei, 3 x loretoensis, 6 x melini, 4 x panda, 6 x schwartzi, 3 x similis, 4 x sterbai, 4 x surinamensis, 5 x trilineatus, 4 x tukano & 3 x zygatus
RIP 1 x adolfoi, 1 x albino aeneus & 2 x panda
It depends in various factors make sure you plant densely in the beggining even with plants you will remove later, stem plants seem to be the best choice cause of there fast growth, I use ceratophillum demersum here as a starter plant cause it is such a great nutrient sucker, also use freshly cut plants as much as possible maybe taken from another tank, make sure you use CO2 from the begining if you intend to run a high maintenance tank (ferts, CO2, lots of light), ferts you can add from the first days making sure you test and add selectively, but in very low dosages and build up in 4-6 weeks to your final dosing, new tanks tend to be unballanced and have high nitrates and P, keep the fish load low in the begining, frequent water changes also help alot. Basically it is a matter of feedback if you can monitor your tank then you can act accordingly. Anyway even if algae appears don't you worry it will soon go if you dose properly. For more check this thread also.
http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.c...p;m=1776001774
Hope this helps
It seems to be quite difficult to buy PO4 test kit.
My Nitrate is almost 0!!! Dont understand, before the last change it was almost 40ppm. After 50% change, it dropped to almost zero for the last 4days....! I thot my test kit is not working...when I test with another tank's water, it does show nitrate level. Now I increase my fish feed twice, hopefully this will create more nitrate.
I have dose Potassium from Seachem, at 15ml (for 600litre) twice a week. I have dose Phosphate...but later regret becos I cannot test for PO4 without any test kit. But since my nitrate is low.... I think I overdose my PO4... can see algae boom now.
Mike,
I believe this is the Aro tank? Anyway, PO4 test kits are not that difficult to get. I got mine from NA Nature and I believe other LFS like C328 or Polyart has them too.
If your NO3 is low, I would advise increase by KNO3 as this way you'll have a better control over the nutrients.
If your NO3 reading is accurate, I think the algae is caused by lack of NO3 rather than PO4. PO4 do not cause algae blooms.----------------
On 11/13/2003 8:27:35 PM
It seems to be quite difficult to buy PO4 test kit.
My Nitrate is almost 0!!! Dont understand, before the last change it was almost 40ppm. After 50% change, it dropped to almost zero for the last 4days....! I thot my test kit is not working...when I test with another tank's water, it does show nitrate level. Now I increase my fish feed twice, hopefully this will create more nitrate.
I have dose Potassium from Seachem, at 15ml (for 600litre) twice a week. I have dose Phosphate...but later regret becos I cannot test for PO4 without any test kit. But since my nitrate is low.... I think I overdose my PO4... can see algae boom now.
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BTW I think you better use K2SO4 for dosing of potassium. You can dump the whole bottle of Seachem Flourish Potassium into your 600L tank every week and you only get 17ppm per week. Usually we dose 15-20ppm of K each week.
BC
Oh... one more thing, do not increase NO3 by feeding more. You will get more algae that way. It is because the waste get converted to NH3 before turning into NO3. And algae love NH3.
Dose KNO3 instead.
BC
Where can I get K2SO4?
Well I always wanted to feed my fish twice a day. I ration their feed to once a day is to try to reduce the nutrient. Now NO4 is zero!!! Yesterday I bought PH7 solutoin to calibrate my PH test pen. Realise my PH Pen is out by 0.5! Measured my tank PH is at 6.7 and KH is 4. My plants are sucking up the Nutrient fast. I just got my PO4 test kit...and the test result is zero!
Now I have nitrate and phosphorus both zero! hmmmm.. what is going on! Did I miss anything? There is still algae blooming. If this continue till mid of next week, I have to get nitrate supplement already.
Used to have high nitrate problem. Now swing to zero level problem.....hmmm.
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On 11/14/2003 8:52:02 PM
Where can I get K2SO4?
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Get it here:
http://www.singaporehydroponics.com/pages/5/index.htm
http://www.singaporehydroponics.com/pages/1/index.htm
Corydoras: 2 x adolfoi, 1 x agassizii, 5 x albino aeneus, 3 x arcuatus, 4 x atropersonatus, 3 x axelrodi, 6 x axelrodi variante B, 4 x caudimaculatus, 5 x duplicareus, 8 x goldlines, 3 x kanei, 3 x loretoensis, 6 x melini, 4 x panda, 6 x schwartzi, 3 x similis, 4 x sterbai, 4 x surinamensis, 5 x trilineatus, 4 x tukano & 3 x zygatus
RIP 1 x adolfoi, 1 x albino aeneus & 2 x panda
Resistance is futile, you will be administrated!
Mike, what did you do differently recently? From your previous post, my impression is that you start dosing PO4 only recently?
Possibility is that your plants were limited by PO4. Now that you are dosing PO4, your plants have the missing ingredient and they've started to take up the rest faster.
Your algae bloom is probably due to the lack of NO3 now.
As for K, some ppl get Ca deficiency symptoms after a while. Go slow with it. Personally, I've cut done my dose from 20 to 30 ppm per week to about 5 to 10ppm.
Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
Hi Mike,
It is great to here that you've PO4 and NO3 deficiencies despite an aro com tank! At least, you'd be able to control the nutrient level better from now on.
Yeah, I agree with Vinz that you can attribute algae bloom due to the nutrient imbalance in there, as these algae can thrive on even minute traces of them. With a severe deprivation of macronutrients, the plants' health may get compromised.
So, do act fast, as the longer you wait, the harder it is to get rid of these algae!
Cheers,
Kenny
I am not quite sure of myself right now... This is the 1st time I have NO3 at zero... I always have to fight with high nitrate. I thought my test kit is not working or my biofilter has broke down. Tested for ammonia, zero.----------------
On 11/15/2003 12:26:14 AM
Mike, what did you do differently recently? From your previous post, my impression is that you start dosing PO4 only recently?
Possibility is that your plants were limited by PO4. Now that you are dosing PO4, your plants have the missing ingredient and they've started to take up the rest faster.
Your algae bloom is probably due to the lack of NO3 now.
As for K, some ppl get Ca deficiency symptoms after a while. Go slow with it. Personally, I've cut done my dose from 20 to 30 ppm per week to about 5 to 10ppm.
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Anyway, I am feeding my fish twice a week now. Going to observe next few days, if zero nitrate persists, I will get Nitrate supplement.
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On 11/14/2003 4:23:13 PM
Oh... one more thing, do not increase NO3 by feeding more. You will get more algae that way. It is because the waste get converted to NH3 before turning into NO3. And algae love NH3.
Dose KNO3 instead.
BC
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I am a little confused. Should I get K2SO4 or KNO3? My 6 fishes are quite high bioload as I feed market prawns and froggies.
K2SO4 will supply the potassium (K).----------------
On 11/15/2003 10:54:48 PM
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On 11/14/2003 4:23:13 PM
Oh... one more thing, do not increase NO3 by feeding more. You will get more algae that way. It is because the waste get converted to NH3 before turning into NO3. And algae love NH3.
Dose KNO3 instead.
BC
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I am a little confused. Should I get K2SO4 or KNO3? My 6 fishes are quite high bioload as I feed market prawns and froggies.
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KNO3 will supply the NO3 and some K. I recommend to dose NO3 rather than increasing your feeding (unless you fishes really need more food).
You can get both K2SO4 and KNO3 from Dr Mallick's (refer to the LFS list via the link on top of the page). You may find them at Eco-Culture at Eminent Plaza too.
BC
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