30searay
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I have a 110 gallon set up that is about 2 months old. I am still getting the hang of the fertilization schedule but for the most part the plants seem to be happy. It's my phosphates that seem to climb quickly and don't drop until the water change. the tank is well planted with val, cabomba, hygrophilia, various crypts, and anacarus (sp?). I am still experimenting with what grows best in the tank due to the depth (29 inches).
Here are the tank stats.
lighting: 330 watts 10 hours with 2 hour break mid-day
CO2: pressurized; 4-5 bubbles per second, about 28 ppm per the formula (I don't yet have a drop checker).
Substrate: eco-complete
pH; 6.8
kH: 9
gH: 15
Nitrates 15-20 ppm
phosphates 5 ppm
ammonia: nil
nitrites; nil
I am using the EI schedule while I determine the plants utilization rate of the ferts in the tank. Currently, I dose 1/4 teaspoon of the KH2PO4 on M-W-F along with the KN03. Traces are dosed on T-R-S.
What could be making the phosphates climb so high? It almost seems they are not being used by the plants. Algae is in check so far thanks to my friendly tank mates, although it is present in the tank.
Here are the tank stats.
lighting: 330 watts 10 hours with 2 hour break mid-day
CO2: pressurized; 4-5 bubbles per second, about 28 ppm per the formula (I don't yet have a drop checker).
Substrate: eco-complete
pH; 6.8
kH: 9
gH: 15
Nitrates 15-20 ppm
phosphates 5 ppm
ammonia: nil
nitrites; nil
I am using the EI schedule while I determine the plants utilization rate of the ferts in the tank. Currently, I dose 1/4 teaspoon of the KH2PO4 on M-W-F along with the KN03. Traces are dosed on T-R-S.
What could be making the phosphates climb so high? It almost seems they are not being used by the plants. Algae is in check so far thanks to my friendly tank mates, although it is present in the tank.