Jimbo205

When did you begin using PPS?
Do mean dry ferts? By themselves, or with my Seachem products?

Do you find the PPS system easy to use?
Don't know. I am not sure if I am actually doing it or just mixing EVERYTHING that I've learned on APC in my head.

How often do you do a water change?
Sometimes weekly. Sometimes 5%, sometimes 10% sometimes more depending on whether I am satisfied with my aquarium or if I am trying to 'clean up' the bio-available plant mulm on the bottom.

Do you use CO2?
Yes, I use a Hagen Ladder and watch the bubbles. Sometimes I refresh the container. I have learned my lesson and try to be accurate in my measurements when adding supplies to it.

What is your aquarium's water volume?
10 Gallons. Of course that does not take into account the 3-5 inches of Aquarium gravel and Seachem Onyx that I combined together 1-2 years ago on the bottom as my substrate. I was following my Barron's book by 'Wolfgang?'

How many watts of lighting do you have?
I use 2x20Watts 6500K Sunlight Compact Fluorescent Bulbs from Lights of America. They were set on the timer to go on between 4pm and 8pm. I have a second timer to turn off the BIO-Wheel Mini Penguin filter during the same time so that the plants can pearl. The tank is in front of a western window to get natural sunlight through the window at times. I have blinds that I shut when I think it is too much for the plants.

Please describe the condition of your plants.
I have Java Fern, Rotala, Dwarf Sagittaria, Hemianthus Micranthemoides and Blyxa Japonica. The Rotala and Dwarf Sagittaria are growing like wildfire, the Java Fern I have moved in front of the filter to block the natural lighting through the window from 'frying' it. It seems to be doing better in its new location. The Hemianthus Micranthemoides and Blyxa Japonica are new. The Blyxa Japonica (1 stem) has done well so far. It has grown towards the lights and seems to be changing color. The bottom half of the stem seems to be growing shoots. I am not sure if I should cut off the top half and plant it yet or not. I am hoping to get the Hemianthus Micranthemoides to multiply or do well. Overall, the tank is packed and I will need to thin it out again.

I would like to know when I can stop using my Seachem products on this tank.

I have Potassium Nitrate, CSM+B and Potassium Monobasic Phosphate. I would like to dose one of these on a rotating basis so I remember to dose each of these 2 times per week.
For Potassium Nitrate I use one Dash (metal spoon), for CSM+B one Smidgen (metal spoon) and for potassium monobasic phosphate I use one Smidgen.

What will happen if I stop using the Seachem Products?

Edward

Hi
This dosing system can be done only with PPS solutions. No other product resembles the same contents. Anybody can make these solutions inexpensively at home, they are easy to obtain and safe to use.

Water changes are not necessary unless some parameters get out of control. Of course the water changes may be applied and the loss of nutrients will be considered as plant uptake and automatically corrected by the PPS Calculator. If water changes are provided then it is desirable to do them periodically and at the same rate.

You need to get all the nutrients first, then mix them up to SS, PF, Mg, TE and clean the aquarium with water changes to levels of < 5 ppm NO3, < 0.25 ppm PO4. Test NO3, PO4 and Mg. Start dosing daily according to Typical Daily Dosing table.

After one week you will test again and enter the data in to the PPS Calculator. On the right side where the results are you will see the Next daily dosage. This may go on for few weeks until you notice the dosage being the same. At this point you may increase the testing period to more weeks.

Jimbo205

Ow, ow, ow, ow. This is going to hurt. Old dog learning new tricks.

Okay, printing out and reading and re-reading. I think I have seen and read some of this stuff before.
This is what I got the dropper bottles for from the local fish store over the summer.

So you test once a week, correct?

and the ppm I think I recognize from testing for KH and GH. I burned through that kit pretty quick.

I can take samples to the Local Fish Store once a week for this stuff, yes?

Edward

Hi
If you feel more comfortable doing water changes then testing few variables, then you could do PPS with Water changes.



The solutions are the same and the routine is simple.

Dose daily per 10 gallon tank:
2 ml SS
5 ml PF
10 drops Mg
10 drops TE

After 1 week you change more then 50% of water. That’s it. No testing necessary.