Confused about PPS - PPS Analysis and Feedback

snickle · 04-09-2007, 12:24 PM

OKay, I fouind most of the info on PPS with Water Changes, PPS without water changes.

I also see PPS-Pro being mentioned and see the mixture for it, not a good explanation for a newbie to follow.

Goal is easy dosing in a 90G, with fish, Bi-Weekly water changes 30%

Doable?

Edward · 04-09-2007, 07:19 PM

Hi snickle,
Can you be more specific?

snickle · 04-09-2007, 07:55 PM

Okay, being a newbie to a planted world step by step instructions are nice.

I think I figured out the basics of the PPS. Dose and measure. Switch to the other formulas as need to maintain levels.

But I did not see much text around the New PPS-Pro dosing.

Maybe I am missing key posts, maybe I am just dumb, but I can't figure out if I need to do anything other than mix up the solution and dump it in my tank.

Edward · 04-09-2007, 09:03 PM

You are correct. There is no special text for the new PPS-Pro. The reason, … this system is so easy there is no complex article about it.

The prescribed dosage is so precise it works well under low and high light, any reasonable fish load, CO2 and non CO2 aquariums. There is no water testing necessary.

CO2 enrichment is beneficial to aquatic plants. Today we know that high CO2 levels proved to be irrelevant to algae control. Sensible levels of ~10-15 ppm are sufficient and natural. This can be achieved by simply adjusting a needle valve to 1 bubble per second. Make sure the pure CO2 dissolves completely and keep the settings 24 hours a day. Consistency is the key in keeping algae free aquarium. Implementing small aeration and water surface movement gives additional improvements to fish and plants.

More light is always better, especially on aquariums as high as 24”, 24+”. There is really almost no limit on light intensity we can use, because no light can match the sunlight plants get in the nature. What we have to understand is the intensity per period ratio. Low light can go for 10-12 hours, medium light for 8-10, high light 6-8 hours and very high light 5-6 hours.

Cont…

snickle · 04-10-2007, 11:16 AM

I read in one thread to monitor the KH to determine when a water change is needed. But it did not say what the triggering value would be. Any guidance?

Edward · 04-10-2007, 05:46 PM

Some substrates gradually dissolve in water increasing KH. Because most plants don’t like to grow in very high carbonate hardness we have to monitor it and consequently restore it to lower levels. Let’s say your tap is at 2 dKH. If after a month your aquarium KH is at 4 dKH we have a problem. Plants won’t tolerate such variations. So in order to keep the KH in acceptable levels we need to do periodic water changes. The rates vary depending on the substrate and CO2 levels. In this example, water kept at 3 dKH would be the right choice. We don’t want to be doing water changes too often, but we don’t want liquid rock either. Inert substrate is a better choice.