Method of controlled imbalances and gda... - Page 12 - Algae

SniperLk · 06-30-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian_rubilar

It was a 15 gallon tank and...let me remember...I used to add about 7 grams per week of Kno3.

This means that, even if you have low Po4, perhaps the Kno3 your plants needs can be bigger than you think.

7 grams per week ? !!! That's 75ppm of NO3 every week, about twice what EI recommends which is already a lot.

Christian_rubilar · 07-01-2009, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevermore

Am I correct in my understanding that what is being presented here is only applicable if my light is 3 watts/gallon or more? Is there any part of this that can be useful for combatting GDA in a 2 watt/gallon T5HO tank?

Thanks!

When I wrote the MCI I suggested to use the method with no les than 1 watt per litre, this is about 4 watts/gallon. The feedback showed me that the MCI works with less light only if you have a lot of plants. The only difference is that it will take more time because your tank is slower. It has been succesfully used with 2 watts/gallon.
Regards

Christian_rubilar · 07-01-2009, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperLk

7 grams per week ? !!! That's 75ppm of NO3 every week, about twice what EI recommends which is already a lot.

Well, the idea is that every tank is different and the Kno3 protocol shows you the real consumption of your tank. For this reason I critize those methods that propose ¨add 1 spoon of this, half spoon of that¨ because we are feeding plants instead of glass tanks. The ammount of Kno3 that is proposed at the EI can be a lot or not enough depending of your plants, light, Co2, etc.
In this tank I used to add 6 gramms a day (54 ppm) of Kno3 when I had glosso or I had ciano:

But when I changed the glosso for a sp. plant alike HC from the misiones jungle:

the ammount of Kno3 was smaller, 4 gramms a day every day.

In the other hand, as you already probably read, I critice adding 1 ppm or more of Fe and Po4. I believe that this is useless and produces interferences. Probably what happend is that he nedded 70 ppm to induce Po4 to zero. And it is probably that after that, if he doesn´t add over 0.2 ppm of Po4 and 0.1 ppm of Fe, then the comsumption of Kno3 will be smaller.

Esencially, it is interesting how this little experiments can teach us how does our aquariums works. You know, if a ¨theory¨ asserts something and facts show you something different, then that theory must be abandoned.

Regards

pd: I ´am arriving to the US past tomorrow but I will be for the Next 6 week in the contry side with little chances to check internet more that once a week

Aquaticz · 07-01-2009, 11:53 AM

Hello,
I am dosing two tanks a 70 gallon & a 55gallon. Dosing three months. I started dosing 20 ml of a 0.7 ppm solution. now three months later I am dosing 14 ml in the 70 gal & 12 ml in the 55 gal. I re mixed the solutions so 1 PPM = .5 nitrate. I test on a regular basis. My teting shows that I will need to up the KN03.I can barely keep nitrites at 10 PPM. At at one time the reading would have been much higher due to less comsumption and fewer plants.
This means it is time for me to bump it up!
I'll probably add an additional 3 ml, then test and see where I go from there.

Still learning myself but thought this was worthwhile info.

SniperLk · 07-02-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian_rubilar

Well, the idea is that every tank is different and the Kno3 protocol shows you the real consumption of your tank. For this reason I critize those methods that propose ¨add 1 spoon of this, half spoon of that¨ because we are feeding plants instead of glass tanks. The ammount of Kno3 that is proposed at the EI can be a lot or not enough depending of your plants, light, Co2, etc.
In this tank I used to add 6 gramms a day (54 ppm) of Kno3 when I had glosso or I had ciano:

In the other hand, as you already probably read, I critice adding 1 ppm or more of Fe and Po4. I believe that this is useless and produces interferences. Probably what happend is that he nedded 70 ppm to induce Po4 to zero. And it is probably that after that, if he doesn´t add over 0.2 ppm of Po4 and 0.1 ppm of Fe, then the comsumption of Kno3 will be smaller.

Esencially, it is interesting how this little experiments can teach us how does our aquariums works. You know, if a ¨theory¨ asserts something and facts show you something different, then that theory must be abandoned.

That's still a lot

I'm quite amazed that you can add 54ppm of NO3- weekly without having any build up. If I am, it's because I've seen a lot of tanks as planted as the one you're showing, with owners saying that they're using TPN+ only and dosing according to Tropica instructions. That means no more than 7ppm of NO3 per week.

Aquaticz · 07-02-2009, 06:02 AM

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Christian_rubilar · 07-02-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticz

Update - I did add 4 ml to the 70 gal & 3 ml to the 55 gal. I tested 1/2 hour later and my actions raised the nitrates another 10 ppm for a total of 20 ppm.

Question; I know you are supposed alternate when using EI, one day ferts the next trace emements.
Would 12 hours be long enough to wait after fertilizing to add them?

I think you should open a new thread. Regards

Christian_rubilar · 07-02-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperLk

That's still a lot

I'm quite amazed that you can add 54ppm of NO3- weekly without having any build up. If I am, it's because I've seen a lot of tanks as planted as the one you're showing, with owners saying that they're using TPN+ only and dosing according to Tropica instructions. That means no more than 7ppm of NO3 per week.

Depends. The idea behind the MCI is to have barely nothing in the water column. With the Kno3 protocol you can add exactly what you need and between 2.5 to 5 ppm will be in the water after plant uptake. In some cases you will need to add 70 ppm, in others 10 ppm. But the test is the ciano esencially, because if you run off Kno3 you'll got it.

About Tropica, well, they sell plants, if you add 7 ppm plants will survive for sure but you will need to buy a lot of them.
In the other hand, the MCI is a fertilizing and algae control method.
Regards

Seattle_Aquarist · 07-02-2009, 08:12 PM

Hi Christian_rubilar,

I just wanted to thank you for an excellent thread! I have been fighting GDA for several months, and it seemed to be getting worse and worse. Although I am only running 2 WPG I decided to give your MCI a try. I am on my third week but still dosing 2 grams of KNO3 daily in my 45 gallon tank. My plants, which used to grow well, are thriving (including my first flower on an Anubias barteri var. Nana)! But the best part is I have seen little to no GDA in the last week or so. I will continue and see how this concludes, but so far I am very, very, happy! Thank you!

Aquaticz · 07-02-2009, 11:09 PM

removed