Aquatic Plant Central - View Single Post - wkndracer trying to start with PPS classic

wkndracer · 06-15-2009, 05:30 PM

Beginning my forth week yesterday.

It’s my intent to update this string as time allows with my experiences using the PPS dosing system. The two tanks being dosed are as follow;
2- 4’L x18” W 75g tanks in a bookend arrangement in the living room, 75L is a Flourite substrate. 75R is Eco-Complete later capped with Flourite. Both tanks were setup May 2008. With hard scaping tanks have 60g and 64g water columns. Substrate is 2-3” deep in both tanks.

Lights are Current T5 HO 4x54w (2- plant grow, 2 – 10000K). Bulbs are run split with both types on each bank. 3” legs are on the fixtures directly mounted on the tanks. 7 hour full burn and 8 hour total light period. Both tanks are controlled by the same timer. Neither tank receives direct sunlight.

CO2 is injected via SuMo dual feed regulator w/solenoids. American Marine controllers are installed on both tanks. Diffusion method is Rex style down flow reactors. 30-45ppm.

Each tank has a power head fitted with a Marineland sponge filter mounted in the same corner as the canister suction tube for added circulation. 75L has an Eheim 2078 Pro 3e. 75R is filtered by an Eheim Pro II 2028. Also both tanks have Aqua UV 15 watt sterilizers running at night with the lunar lights.

My well water is crazy on its Fe level (off all test kit scales). I’ve seen folks post higher GH numbers than what I have but untreated well water is over 10dGH and 11dKH coming out the ground and higher during drought periods. 100% R O is being used and Rex’s Grumpy mix setting GH. KH is currently set with soda but as my understanding improves Discus Mix, CaCO3, CaCl2.2H20, CaSO4 and MgSO4.7H20 will be replacing the premix.

Using Edwards dosing guidelines for the tank size and the downloaded calculator testing is done at weekly intervals. Four weeks held three large changes in dosing for both my tanks. The first week NO3 disappeared from the water columns of both tanks. Starting levels were tested at 10ppm and 20ppm. Ending levels were zero and 5ppm in a week.
Week two saw large recommended dosing volumes of PF (38mL) Mg and SS solutions remaining the same.
Week three saw large recommended dosing volumes of PF (36, 51mL)and Mg solutions (5, 22mL) eliminating SS solution. My intent is to hold Ca/Mg at 4:1. I’ve set my desired Mg level based on Ca2 tests each week to hold the ratio. Testing showed Nitrate levels gain 50 and 80ppm in 7 days. The nutrient swings can’t be good. Sunday afternoon I started to do large water changes on both tanks but my wife made a comment that stopped me. “If this is a tested system won’t results and dosing volumes bring it back down?” is what she asked. So,,, good point!
Starting the forth week the calculator now recommends only 4.1mL of NF solution for both tanks and Mg dosing for only one at 4mL daily along with the TE solution. At midweek (3 days) I plan on testing levels to see if yet another swing is occurring.
Sunday I pulled leaves with minor BBA from crypts, swords and bacopa from the 75R. The 75L is showing Blue Green Slime Algae along the edge of the substrate. None of this was an issue with EI and may be just an adjustment period, time will tell. The GH level is slowly climbing but in range on the 75L so I let it ride. The 75R on the other hand was out of range on GH so it received a 26g WC to drop it. Playing with the calculator it appears to compensate for different input values as to starting and period ending levels so maybe more patience is called for.
Cautiously optimism needs to be my attitude at present and going forward with PPS. More time involved setting it up may pay off down the road.

06-15-2009, 05:30 PM	#12 (permalink)
wkndracer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Citrus County, Florida Posts: 126 iTrader Ratings: 0 Plant Points: 17000	Re: wkndracer trying to start with PPS classic Beginning my forth week yesterday. It’s my intent to update this string as time allows with my experiences using the PPS dosing system. The two tanks being dosed are as follow; 2- 4’L x18” W 75g tanks in a bookend arrangement in the living room, 75L is a Flourite substrate. 75R is Eco-Complete later capped with Flourite. Both tanks were setup May 2008. With hard scaping tanks have 60g and 64g water columns. Substrate is 2-3” deep in both tanks. Lights are Current T5 HO 4x54w (2- plant grow, 2 – 10000K). Bulbs are run split with both types on each bank. 3” legs are on the fixtures directly mounted on the tanks. 7 hour full burn and 8 hour total light period. Both tanks are controlled by the same timer. Neither tank receives direct sunlight. CO2 is injected via SuMo dual feed regulator w/solenoids. American Marine controllers are installed on both tanks. Diffusion method is Rex style down flow reactors. 30-45ppm. Each tank has a power head fitted with a Marineland sponge filter mounted in the same corner as the canister suction tube for added circulation. 75L has an Eheim 2078 Pro 3e. 75R is filtered by an Eheim Pro II 2028. Also both tanks have Aqua UV 15 watt sterilizers running at night with the lunar lights. My well water is crazy on its Fe level (off all test kit scales). I’ve seen folks post higher GH numbers than what I have but untreated well water is over 10dGH and 11dKH coming out the ground and higher during drought periods. 100% R O is being used and Rex’s Grumpy mix setting GH. KH is currently set with soda but as my understanding improves Discus Mix, CaCO3, CaCl2.2H20, CaSO4 and MgSO4.7H20 will be replacing the premix. Using Edwards dosing guidelines for the tank size and the downloaded calculator testing is done at weekly intervals. Four weeks held three large changes in dosing for both my tanks. The first week NO3 disappeared from the water columns of both tanks. Starting levels were tested at 10ppm and 20ppm. Ending levels were zero and 5ppm in a week. Week two saw large recommended dosing volumes of PF (38mL) Mg and SS solutions remaining the same. Week three saw large recommended dosing volumes of PF (36, 51mL)and Mg solutions (5, 22mL) eliminating SS solution. My intent is to hold Ca/Mg at 4:1. I’ve set my desired Mg level based on Ca2 tests each week to hold the ratio. Testing showed Nitrate levels gain 50 and 80ppm in 7 days. The nutrient swings can’t be good. Sunday afternoon I started to do large water changes on both tanks but my wife made a comment that stopped me. “If this is a tested system won’t results and dosing volumes bring it back down?” is what she asked. So,,, good point! Starting the forth week the calculator now recommends only 4.1mL of NF solution for both tanks and Mg dosing for only one at 4mL daily along with the TE solution. At midweek (3 days) I plan on testing levels to see if yet another swing is occurring. Sunday I pulled leaves with minor BBA from crypts, swords and bacopa from the 75R. The 75L is showing Blue Green Slime Algae along the edge of the substrate. None of this was an issue with EI and may be just an adjustment period, time will tell. The GH level is slowly climbing but in range on the 75L so I let it ride. The 75R on the other hand was out of range on GH so it received a 26g WC to drop it. Playing with the calculator it appears to compensate for different input values as to starting and period ending levels so maybe more patience is called for. Cautiously optimism needs to be my attitude at present and going forward with PPS. More time involved setting it up may pay off down the road.