Kamon

I use this:

29 Gallon Aquarium
+/- ¼ tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/16 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
5ml of Flourish 3x a week
50% weekly water change

Instead of using Flourish, would it be better if I used the CSM+B for trace elements?

Another thing, how does everyone dose their fertz into the tank? Do you simply measure out 1/4tsp of KNO3 and dump it into the aquarium?

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Kamon,

I have used both CSM+B and Flourish Comprehensive in the past as my micronutrient source and although more expensive I believe that Flourish does a better job. I seem to have fewer deficiency problems with Flourish.

rich815

I've used Flourish, CSM+B and TMG for micro dosing and frankly have need seen any major difference. Some others in my club (SFBAAPS) sort of report that same. Many others insist though they see differences so to each his own.

For dosing I dose dry right into the tank. Sometimes the fish mouth the powders as it drops to the bottom and this freaks some people out but it's of no consequence. Personally I drop the powder from the measuring spoon right into the water above my Koralia and it gets dissolved and blown around the tank. Some people will scoop a small cup of tank water and drop the powder in that, swish it around to dissolve most of it and then dump the cup of water back into the tank. That works too.

Kamon

I too have been dosing dry into the tank. I found that I felt more comfortable with using a small cup to scoop out water from the aquarium and letting the fertz dissolve, then pouring directly into the water.

One last question; is it advised to use Flourish and Flourish Comprehensive at the same time? Just wondering.

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Kamon,

I use the name Flourish Comprehensive to differentiate it from other Flourish products such as Trace, Iron, etc. Most people just call it Flourish.

morris

Hey all,
There's just 1 thing about the ei dosage regime that's been bugging me for a while now.
Ex. For a 40 - 60 gal, the rec. Dosage is
1/2 tsp kno3 3*p/week
1/8th tsp kh2po4 3*p/week
10ml plantex csm+b
Then a 50% water change

Now, after you've done the 50% wc, say 25gal.
Do you only add ferts for the 25gal that's been replaced ex.
1/4 tsp kno3 3*p/week
1/16th tsp kh2po4 3*p/week ecc.

Or do you start the whole full fert regime again from scratch?
Cheers!!

bigstick120

Morris, you start from scratch, the point of 50% WC is to reset the tank.

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi morris,

bigstick120 is correct, "start the whole full fert regime again from scratch".

The old man

I began the EI dosing and am due to change 50% water in my 29 gallon tank this Saturday. However, my nitrates, nitrites and ammonia all read 0 ppm. If they read the same on Saturday should I still due a water change? I think I'm supposed to at least have 5-20 ppm of Nitrates. I'm sure my API master test kit is reading ok. The tank is well planted and getting about 107 watts of t-5 and cf lighting with pressurized CO2. This tank has been established for about a year.

rich815

Just curious. What makes you so sure they are reading ok?


Wow! I'm 108w of T5 on my 72 gal and even with that plants are growing quite fast for me. Are your plants growing like mad? Any algae issues? With that much light and if you have loads of plants I guess your levels could be down to zero if the plants sucked it all up. Do you have any fish? Even without dosing for some time my nitrate levels rarely drop lower than 5ppm just from fish poop and uneaten food.