jsoong
Aquarium Advice Addict
Background: my 70+30 gal planted goldies tank, 4*32W T8, no CO2, redone 2-3 months ago with 2 dozen small plants (Java ferns, Vals, Swords, Crypts, Anubias, Cabomba, Bacopa, Hornwort, Apongenton) - the tank is rather sparse while waiting for the plants to grow.
Dosing a variation of EI - measuring NO3 as surragote for nutrient uptake rate & dosing everthing else based on EI proportions - currently weekly Trace 0.05 ppm Fe, N - 12, P - 1, K - 8.
Added Excel about 4 weeks ago in effort to boost plant growth & cut down algae.
Because of the Vals, I was only using 1/2 dose Excel. Algae improving, but plants not growing much compared to before the Excel. Only noticable growth being Cabomba & one Val that is sending out runners with 6-8 baby plants (all 1" or so, the mother plant & babies are not getting any taller, just more numerous ....).
My question is: Is half dosing Excel a waste of money & effort? Should I gradually increase Excel to full dose & hope the Vals adapt, or is half dose still doing something & I should wait longer for results .... (I thought keeping fish will try my patience ... but plants .... 8O )
Dosing a variation of EI - measuring NO3 as surragote for nutrient uptake rate & dosing everthing else based on EI proportions - currently weekly Trace 0.05 ppm Fe, N - 12, P - 1, K - 8.
Added Excel about 4 weeks ago in effort to boost plant growth & cut down algae.
Because of the Vals, I was only using 1/2 dose Excel. Algae improving, but plants not growing much compared to before the Excel. Only noticable growth being Cabomba & one Val that is sending out runners with 6-8 baby plants (all 1" or so, the mother plant & babies are not getting any taller, just more numerous ....).
My question is: Is half dosing Excel a waste of money & effort? Should I gradually increase Excel to full dose & hope the Vals adapt, or is half dose still doing something & I should wait longer for results .... (I thought keeping fish will try my patience ... but plants .... 8O )