RJSimoneaux

When did you begin using PPS?
not yet, I have been using Seachem flourish, Flourish trace, Flourish potassium, Flourish iron. would like to phase in PPS

Do you find the PPS system easy to use?
Have not started yet

How often do you do a water change?
10 to 20 percent every 2 to 3 weeks

Do you use CO2?
Yes, CO2 thru power reactor

What is your aquarium's water volume?
100gal

What type of lighting do you use?
VHO
How many watts of lighting do you have?
4 at 110watts each

Please describe the condition of your plants.
not good. slow growing, having algae problems

Please attach the PPS Excel Spreadsheet.
do not have one at this time. Ok I just found the sheet I will post test results I have tomorrow.
Please read updated sheet on later post.

I need help getting started.

RJSimoneaux

How y'all are,

Got up this morning and did a fifty percent water change. Used fifty percent tap and fifty perecent RO. We have very hard water so RO has been the norm for me.

Also wanted to tell you about the fish load. I like to keep fish in my planted tank.

4 four to six inch clown loachs
2 three inch body Gold Angelfish.
4 Bosemani Rainbows
2 Rummy noses, Trying to get these uo to 6 to 8. 1 of six have lived.
4 Cherry barbs
1 whiptail catfish
1 upside down catfish
1 six inch Striped raphael

I believe this is a low fish load. do you agree?

Later this afternoon I will update the original post with water reading from tank and tank.

RJSimoneaux

Tested the water this afternoon about 5:30PM

Ph 6.8
Gh 5 in question probably need better test kit
KH 3
NO2 0
NH3/NH4 0
I used Tetra test kits

going to get some stump remover and add that tomorrow to bring up Nitrogen.
Do not have Phosphate test yet, it is on order.

Also going to dose Seachem:
Flourish 8ml
Flourish 100ml need to reduce algae
Flourish Iron 10ml
Trying to use these up before I purchase more chemicals. I also have 55gal. so it should not take to long before I run out.

When I do run out what doses would you recommend I use in the 100gal and the 55gal.

Please, any other suggestions would be appreciated.
TIA
RAY

MatPat

Ray,

I apologize that no one has answered your post up until now . I will attempt to answer some of your questions but I am far from an expert on PPS and will instead, give you some links to the PPS documentation. This link should answer most, if not all of your questions you raised regarding PPS and how to apply it to your tank: http://ca.geocities.com/pps@rogers.com/FAQ.PPS.pdf

I would recommend you follow Edward's recommendations for fertilizers in the above link. He spells out exactly what fertilizers you need to have and how to mix them up. He also gives recommended dosage amounts for various tank sizes in this link. I believe all of the fertilizers can be ordered from Greg Watson's site, http://www.gregwatson.com/DryAquaticFertilizers.asp

You have a good amount of light on your tank but the main thing I see with your problematic plant growth is low CO2 and possibly low nutrients. You do not provide any NO3 or PO4 readings on your spreadsheet or in your replies so it is hard to get an idea of what may be missing in your tank, other than CO2. You are currently around 14ppm of CO2 and you should try to get this into the 30ppm range.

Some NO3 and PO4 readings would be a big help in determining what your tank may be missing. Until you get readings for these, try upping the CO2 to around 30ppm and see if that helps. If growth does not get better, I would assume you are deficient in KNO3, PO4 or both and would add some more

RJSimoneaux

Thanks fror your reply Matt,

I have recieved the Ca2 and PO4 test kits. Calibrated my Ph meter and have attached the new reading. My order should have shipped from Greg, I should recieve it soon. I look forward to dosing with the chems and getting some stronger growth. Also recieved a shipment of Rotalla Magenta.

Please somebody give me some direction on this!

MatPat

I assume you are needing directions on dosing...follow the recommendations Edward gives for a 100g tank in the first link I gave you:

5ml Standard Solution
11ml of Phosphate Free Solution
1ml of Mg solution
1ml of Trace Solution

Add these amounts daily for one week and then test the water to see if you have been able to maintain your parameters according to his directions. I believe you are shoooting for the following results:

NO3 - 10-20ppm
PO4 - 1-2ppm
CO2 - 30ppm (definately work on getting your CO2 levels up)

Your NO3 is a bit higher than recommended and the PO4 is way high, assuming you calibrated your kits according to the PPS literature. You should probably test your tap water for PO4 and Ca also. This is a baseline reading and gives you a reference between your tank and tap. The Ca test, along with the GH test, will should get you a decent Mg reading. The calibration procedure helps train your eyes to read the kits accurately and should help you determine your Gh a bit better. IF it was hard to red the first time, try testing again. Sometimes repitition helps you figure things out and the tests are fairly cheap to do.

If you have more questions, ask away, and I will do my best to lend a hand. I imagine a few others will chip in also.

RJSimoneaux

Good Morning from the capital of Rock Water

Well I did a full range of test and cannot believe what they read. You will find attached file for my lastest tap water tests and my tanks tests. Gh is suppose to go from red to green, Tetra test starts off as yellow and goes to what is best described as Brown ( a mix of red and Greeen) after 45 drops. I do not think I am going to be able to use tap water in my tanks. What do you guys think? Could these reading be correct? I will call water company today and get there readings.

Edward

Hi
Sorry for the delay. I would like to Thank MatPat for his excellent help.

RJSimoneaux,
What you need to do first is to verify your tap readings with your local water department and fish store.

We are looking for tap:
GH
KH
Ca
Mg
NO3
PO4

After this we can establish the strategy of RO and dosing.