Algae identification and advice

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
ZxC said:
@Potluck how did you make out with your post on TPT?
Click to expand...
I got 2 responses lol, one from nilcog and one from a guy saying to do pps pro, but the link he gave me said pps pro is for tanks that don't need tweaking and they are running co2
 
Fresh2o said:
I’m not familiar with Nilocg’s procedures so I cannot comment on them.
In a smaller tank (20g) each batch lasted approximately 250 days so I only had to do the measuring and mixing every 7-8 months. Also, the dosing rate of 1 mL per 10g was for the macros; for GLA, the dosing rate for micros changed somewhere between 2013-2015. It is now 0.1 mL per 10g.
Some videos on PPS-Pro setup:
First one is lengthy but shows follow up on a couple of tanks, even a low light, non-CO2 tank: https://youtu.be/xBTicFS_2jw
Even longer video, but greater detail with the setup: https://youtu.be/pwMIOh3CoNA
Click to expand...
Great videos, for some reason I couldn't find any when I searched and im pretty good at Google[emoji23] but I was searching for dry as I thought dry was pps pro/ei, so the videos I found were ones where every macro was weighed and put into a weekly pill container m-sun which confused the heck out of me, this is much easier, its literally making your own Liquid ferts, where as the videos I searched the ferts were added in dry in a little vial, I literally thought I had to calculate every macro/micro to reach a specific level of npk which I thought I had to calculate on rotala butterfly, which as usual it was me making things more complicated than it already is, with pps pro I literally just add a the macros to one bottle with distilled /ro water, but with micros since I'm going to be using csm+b and chelated iron 11% would I add the iron in with the csm+b or get another bottle for that? I know you said you had a seperate bottle for kno3 which makes sense as I don't want to run my nitrates in a low tech tank at like 50 (just an example) so I will get a third bottle so I can regulate the kno3 individually, on the nilcog chart it goes by spoons instead of grams so I would have to convert teaspoons to grams as nilcog isnt gram measurements. Reason I like nilcog is well simply put its the only manufacturer I've used.
 
ZxC said:
@Potluck how did you make out with your post on TPT?
Click to expand...
So I know you said to run a npk value of 20/5/25, by doing the pps-pro by the manufacturers dosing instructions adding 1 ml per 10 gallon for medium light (estimating) that's what I'm running not entirely sure as I don't have a meter to check par, this is what the green leaf pps pro adds

Medium light
PPS-Pro Solution #1, 1ml per 10 gallon or 40 L
PPS-Pro Solution #2,*0.5ml*per 10 gallon or 40 L
Water change 50% once a week
This limits water column nutrient levels to 14 ppm NO3, 1.4 ppm PO4, 18 ppm K, 1.4 ppm Mg,*0.7*ppm Fe(TE).

Which if I understand this correctly isn't close to the npk you recommended for me to run right?
 
I just dry dose ferts (mainly from the app and I check with test kits). I do have some mixed in water but try to avoid it.
 
Delapool said:
I just dry dose ferts (mainly from the app and I check with test kits). I do have some mixed in water but try to avoid it.
Click to expand...
If I could post a gif right now of me pulling my hair out I would [emoji52] lol, grrr so I do need to dose dry - and calculate on rotala) so I can do my own npk values?
 
Potluck said:
If I could post a gif right now of me pulling my hair out I would [emoji52] lol, grrr so I do need to dose dry - and calculate on rotala) so I can do my own npk values?
Click to expand...



Lol [emoji23] - that’s all I do. I dose phos, nitrate, potassium separately. I’ve a bigger tank but you can buy quite small teaspoon sizes like pinch, etc.

I use a ferts calculator app on iPhone but check against test readings on nitrate and phosphate and adjust. I dose the same for potassium and nitrate or increase potassium if getting holes in leaves. Rarely test after a while as it gets dialed in for dosing.

Large water change resets at end of week.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1519.jpg
    IMG_1519.jpg
    99.4 KB · Views: 30
  • IMG_1522.jpg
    IMG_1522.jpg
    112 KB · Views: 35
  • IMG_1520.jpg
    IMG_1520.jpg
    101.7 KB · Views: 34
  • IMG_1521.jpg
    IMG_1521.jpg
    111.8 KB · Views: 32
Okay I'm Going to try to word this right. But it's probably going to be really confusing as I have not a clue as to what I'm talking about [emoji23][emoji23]

Okay so I have a low tech tank,no co2 high light I think - I don't have a par meter), I run the light for 6 hours, right now with my dosing of thrive and equilibrium these are my results per rotala butterfly, I have no idea what this turns into as far as npk.
https://i.imgur.com/ecUP6WA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yh0b6FM.jpg

My testing from home is as follows
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 30-35
PH 7.4-7.5
Phosphate is higher than my test kit reads so above 3.0
Kh 5
Gh 6.5
Tds 225

If I went pps-pro I wouldn't be able to get the npk that was recommended by ZxC so I need to go dry ferts I'm assuming from what you and ZxC are saying.

Which is 5 different things
Kno3, kh2po4, and k2so4 (optional), for micros its csm+b + iron chelate 11%

So I would have to figure out what amount of those to add to give me a npk value of what ZxC recommended 20-5-25, I know that all those add npk and I simply don't know how to calculate all of them together to get those numbers
 
Potluck said:
Okay I'm Going to try to word this right. But it's probably going to be really confusing as I have not a clue as to what I'm talking about [emoji23][emoji23]

Okay so I have a low tech tank,no co2 high light I think - I don't have a par meter), I run the light for 6 hours, right now with my dosing of thrive and equilibrium these are my results per rotala butterfly, I have no idea what this turns into as far as npk.
https://i.imgur.com/ecUP6WA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yh0b6FM.jpg

My testing from home is as follows
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 30-35
PH 7.4-7.5
Phosphate is higher than my test kit reads so above 3.0
Kh 5
Gh 6.5
Tds 225

If I went pps-pro I wouldn't be able to get the npk that was recommended by ZxC so I need to go dry ferts I'm assuming from what you and ZxC are saying.

Which is 5 different things
Kno3, kh2po4, and k2so4 (optional), for micros its csm+b + iron chelate 11%

So I would have to figure out what amount of those to add to give me a npk value of what ZxC recommended 20-5-25, I know that all those add npk and I simply don't know how to calculate all of them together to get those numbers
Click to expand...

Those numbers are more so for a tank with fast growing plants / driving the plants to grow fast (CO2, high light etc.)

In my low tech, high light tank I dose 10ppm NO3, 3ppm PO4 and 10ppm K after a WC. CSM+B I target 0.7ppm Fe and dose daily, if I skip a day no big deal. I've been meaning to pick up some Flourish Iron and dose daily (pH of 8.2, so DTPA 11% likely won't cut it).

Potluck said:
This is ei dry dosing @2-3 x a week from nilcog for 40-60 gallon tanks, with results that I put into rotala butterfly left out the iron as it doesn't add npk only fe, do I just add the npk of all of them together and x that by 2 or 3 - whichever I choose to dose to get the npk value?
https://i.imgur.com/8PJ04DT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ziqFvwe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rYsyGDh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1HrTofK.jpg
Click to expand...

I would really go with a scale. They are way more accurate than measuring in spoons.

Yes, N-P-K is the dose you add to the tank, times the amount of times you dose it in a week. Many (myself included) front load all the weekly macros after a WC and does micros only throughout the week. I dose dry for macros and liquid for micros. I would be happy to explain how exactly I does and make up my solutions if you want.

N-P-K is the dosed NO3 - PO4 - K.

EI is estimative, so don't focus in on the exact ppm (if you don't want to).

It could be a weekly total of 20ppm NO3 or 25ppm NO3, it doesn't really matter.

Now, higher the PO4 the more Fe you need.

I would target 0.1ppm Fe for CSM+B then target 0.1ppm DTPA 11% Fe and dose these 3 x weekly to start. Go to 4 x weekly, 5 x weekly etc. if you aren't seeing issues.
 
Totally agree on don’t have to get to an exact ppm. And plants growing will change things away. Plus the test kits are not super reliable.

Just pick a dose, try it, test and adjust dosing. I’d try nitrates first as more room for error in dosing compared to phosphate I find (30ppm vs 3ppm I guess).
 
ZxC said:
Those numbers are more so for a tank with fast growing plants / driving the plants to grow fast (CO2, high light etc.)

In my low tech, high light tank I dose 10ppm NO3, 3ppm PO4 and 10ppm K after a WC. CSM+B I target 0.7ppm Fe and dose daily, if I skip a day no big deal. I've been meaning to pick up some Flourish Iron and dose daily (pH of 8.2, so DTPA 11% likely won't cut it).



I would really go with a scale. They are way more accurate than measuring in spoons.

Yes, N-P-K is the dose you add to the tank, times the amount of times you dose it in a week. Many (myself included) front load all the weekly macros after a WC and does micros only throughout the week. I dose dry for macros and liquid for micros. I would be happy to explain how exactly I does and make up my solutions if you want.

N-P-K is the dosed NO3 - PO4 - K.

EI is estimative, so don't focus in on the exact ppm (if you don't want to).

It could be a weekly total of 20ppm NO3 or 25ppm NO3, it doesn't really matter.

Now, higher the PO4 the more Fe you need.

I would target 0.1ppm Fe for CSM+B then target 0.1ppm DTPA 11% Fe and dose these 3 x weekly to start. Go to 4 x weekly, 5 x weekly etc. if you aren't seeing issues.
Click to expand...
Well I know
1/2 teaspoon of kno3 = 10.02 ppm nitrate 2.26 N, 6.32 K
1/8th teaspoon kh2p04 = 2.35 P04, 0.77 P, 0.97K,
1/8th teaspoon of K2s04 = 1.72 k, 0.71 S

1/8th teaspoon of csm+B is only 0.169 fe so I would have to up that to reach 0.7 and do daily doses of that I'm guessing
1/8 teaspoon of dtpa 11% is only 0.26 fe

This is for 55 gallons however I don't have 55 gallons of water, I think the 1/2 teaspoon or whatever that comes out in grams should be fine as the K value seems to be pretty good at around 8 if added all of them together kno3, kh2p04 and k2so4, fe is a bit low so I would need to up those a bit to get the target value of 0.7.

When you commented on the levels I'm adding right now saying that's for high tech, that's what you told me to dose lol.
 
Potluck said:
Well I know
1/2 teaspoon of kno3 = 10.02 ppm nitrate 2.26 N, 6.32 K
1/8th teaspoon kh2p04 = 2.35 P04, 0.77 P, 0.97K,
1/8th teaspoon of K2s04 = 1.72 k, 0.71 S
Click to expand...

This would be a good start. If you want to start simple, you can use the standard EI recommended doses. Or, rotalabutterfly has a "low light" EI method you could use. Simple. Try it, and watch results. Just match your target Fe from CSM+B with Fe from 11% DTPA Fe.

I think you need to forget about the specific ppm everyone is telling you. We all started with the EI recommendations and altered it to our needs later down the road (well, us EI people, not PPS-PRO people).

So:

1/4 teaspoon KNO3 2-4 x weekly (max out NO3 @ 40ppm -- fish waste + KNO3 doses)

1/32 + 1/64 teaspoon KH2PO4 2-4 x weekly.

1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon K2SO4 2-4 weekly. (unless you use equilibrium, than adjust for the K from that.)

Equilibrium - Enough to boost gH by 2 degrees into your water change water.
 
ZxC said:
This would be a good start. If you want to start simple, you can use the standard EI recommended doses. Or, rotalabutterfly has a "low light" EI method you could use. Simple. Try it, and watch results. Just match your target Fe from CSM+B with Fe from 11% DTPA Fe.

I think you need to forget about the specific ppm everyone is telling you. We all started with the EI recommendations and altered it to our needs later down the road (well, us EI people, not PPS-PRO people).

So:

1/4 teaspoon KNO3 2-4 x weekly (max out NO3 @ 40ppm -- fish waste + KNO3 doses)

1/32 + 1/64 teaspoon KH2PO4 2-4 x weekly.

1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon K2SO4 2-4 weekly. (unless you use equilibrium, than adjust for the K from that.)

Equilibrium - Enough to boost gH by 2 degrees into your water change water.
Click to expand...
I see nothing on rotala about easy ei dosing, so I still have a half a bottle of thrive left so I will once again lower it fml
 
Potluck said:
This is the low light dosing but I'm not running low light I'm at about 55 par, lights at 60-65% at 100% it's 82 par so I'm guesstimating.
https://i.imgur.com/bGcvzJH.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/s7VCpGo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7H9k6E9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bLhskeo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ePZrzWu.jpg
Click to expand...

It should say "low tech" not low light.

They are assuming high light means CO2 / high tech.

I run the "low light" EI levels in my HIGH LIGHT low tech tank. No issues.

Here is everything you "need":

Chmg9zk.jpg


c0TvVbo.jpg


YnUMTt6.jpg


ywropny.jpg
 
ZxC said:
It should say "low tech" not low light.

They are assuming high light means CO2 / high tech.

I run the "low light" EI levels in my HIGH LIGHT low tech tank. No issues.

Here is everything you "need":

Chmg9zk.jpg


c0TvVbo.jpg


YnUMTt6.jpg


ywropny.jpg
Click to expand...

So you replaced K2s04 with equilibrium which is fine, yeah that's the numbers I got too, I need to find a scale that weighs milligrams
312 milligrams*=

0.312 gram
I've been over dosing the heck out of the tank per what you wanted me to dose, believe you said 25 ml thrive I'm doing 10 (which isn't bad, it Doesn't add 10 ppm no3) but 3/4 tbl spoon of equilibrium ouch.
 
Potluck said:
So you replaced K2s04 with equilibrium which is fine, yeah that's the numbers I got too, I need to find a scale that weighs milligrams
Click to expand...

Yes, if you are using Equilibrium and bump gH up by 2 degrees, it will supply enough K -- 27ppm.

yes, 300mg = 0.3 grams

Here is what you "need" to dose for DTPA Fe

aHnQNRp.jpg
 
ZxC said:
Yes, if you are using Equilibrium and bump gH up by 2 degrees, it will supply enough K -- 27ppm.

yes, 300mg = 0.3 grams

Here is what you "need" to dose for DTPA Fe

aHnQNRp.jpg
Click to expand...
So next water change as I can't do anything about it now, am I still adding 3/4 tablespoon equilibrium and 10 ml thrive, I still have a half bottle of thrive and I don't want to throw it away, I'll order the dry and the scale but want to finish out the liquid? I looked up thrive low light weekly and it says about 4 ml which is less that what I was dosing
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Algae or fungus? What is this?
Replies
1
Views
429
Andy Sager
Andy Sager
L
!! plant identification
Replies
5
Views
385
Colin_T
C
S
New tank- light and fertilizer
Replies
4
Views
486
ShyWildPetExper
S
I
Algae bloom
Replies
14
Views
618
India_R
I
L
Purple algae purgatory
Replies
1
Views
228
Aiken Drum
Aiken Drum

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom