Protozoan

Hi there,

I would like to ask about Estimative Index (EI) method.

I experienced holes in leafs as shown on the image:



I found out, that such holes are caused by missing potassium. EI system has macro-element (KNO3, KH2PO4 and K2SO4) and micro-element part. Do you think, that I can increase the daily dose of macro-elements by 50% without any risk?

Thank you!

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• volume: 40l
• lighting: Chihiros LED A serie 40-60cm 24W A401 (10 hours)
• Tetra Tec EX 600 Plus (strong stream)
• 10 × Paracheirodon axelrodi

hoppycalif

A possible problem with greatly increasing the dosage of all of the macro elements is nitrate. Fortunately there is an inexpensive test kit for nitrates. I suggest buying one of those, and testing for nitrate. Don't let it go above 40 ppm or so, not that you can be sure that 40 ppm might harm the fish, but because you just don't need that much. If you want to just increase the potassium use K2SO4, added to the other macros.

Protozoan

Thank you mate for your help.

So is possible to increase just one part of the mix? I was not sure whet the other components should be appropriately increased as well.

hoppycalif

There are no ratios of the nutrients that have to be maintained. The only goal is to have enough of each of the nutrients, but not way too much of any of them. Since the product of the nitrogen cycle is nitrates, and some tap waters contain a significant amount of nitrate, it is nitrate that usually can go too high when we proportionately increase our macro dosages. That is the reason we tend to keep some potassium sulfate on hand, so we can increase the potassium without increasing nitrates, as happens when we increase the dosage of potassium nitrate.

Gone missing

And just to muddy the water a bit? I am also looking for a solution to one plant showing very near the same sings. But I am now looking at other causes as I feel somewhat sure that my potassium is now plenty high as I have been adding potassium sulfate. I am using it for extra K as my nitrate tends to run too high much of the time due to a heavy fish load in most cases.
But now that i have tested what appears to be a lack of potassium, I am now moving on to some other items which might be logical to confuse. Curing things is easy, it's finding the true cause that gives us fits at times?
I'm now looking/thinking about magnesium as the problem. I might warn to watch for the same. If adding potassium is not fixing the problem, be open to move on to other causes, perhaps?
Magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) is an easy one to acquire so before I totally ditch this one plant, I will be testing if added MG is good.