Super_Blueberry
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Hey guys. I've been struggling for a couple months now with the lower portions of my stem plants, red ludwigia, wisteria, a couple others. My swords, anubias, and other non-stem plants are doing fine. Whats happening is I notice some melting of the leaves, but not overall....more like lines. After a week or so, that leaf falls off. Now most of my stem plants are bare at the bottom, but plenty of new growth up top. I've just been clipping the new growth off and planting that, but the mess from the dead leaves and the replanting is getting kind of old. I don't know if its a lack of proper fertilization or something else. Currently I have 96watts of t5ho lighting on my 55g on a split timer, 4 hours in the morning, 5 off, 5 in the evening. Its gravel substrate with seachems root tabs scattered throughout, which I replace every so often. I've also tried the osmocote fertcicles, but when the balls pop up during replanting and gravel vacs it tends to add to the mess. I also dose seachems trace twice weekly, and spot treat with excel as needed...luckily not that often. I have pressurized co2 to come on an hour before each light, and off an hour before lights out. Weekly 50-60% pwc's.
Anyway, I'm starting to wonder if my heavy plant load is just too much for the co2, liquid and root ferts to be effective alone and was wanting to try EI. However, I'll be the first to admit that from what I have seen on my own reserarch, I'm intimidated by it. I'm hoping that someone on here can explain or post a link to an 'beginners guide' to EI. From obtaining and mixing your own ferts, scheduling the dosing, and testing the levels.
Thanks as always for the advice!
Anyway, I'm starting to wonder if my heavy plant load is just too much for the co2, liquid and root ferts to be effective alone and was wanting to try EI. However, I'll be the first to admit that from what I have seen on my own reserarch, I'm intimidated by it. I'm hoping that someone on here can explain or post a link to an 'beginners guide' to EI. From obtaining and mixing your own ferts, scheduling the dosing, and testing the levels.
Thanks as always for the advice!