[Steve Pituch]

Error,
Have you ever successfully tried a tank with 5.5 W/g? I would think your nutrient usage could be quadruple that needed at 2 to 3 W/g. As much as I like to use the Estimative Index, I think you will need to do daily lengthy chemical analyses with expensive test kits until you get the dosing right. At that much light I think the balance of the tank is a very fine line and very hard to do. From what I have seen of your work, you are more successful than I am (have better results). Perhap I can learn something from you, but I will be impressed if you can keep the tank in good shape at that light level.

Good luck, and please let us know how things work out. What I would do is gradually lessen the light until you are not able to detect deficiencies.

Normally we measure nitrate in ppm and grams of KNO3. What does the 12.7 measure?

Regards,
Steve Pituch

 

[Steve Pituch]

Error,
I don't think that the soil substrate will hurt. Sometimes if the soil is too hot in the beginning you will get algae blooms but you don't seem to have that problem. In my experience up to 3.5 W/G it doesn't hurt in any way.

OK, I confirmed the 12.7 ppm NO3. But I put 10 ppm NO3 in a 2 W/G tank twice per week, so your 12.7 three times a week is not too much more. True, I don't measure No3 since I don't have an expensive test kit and I do 50% water changes per the Estimative Index, but you aren't dosing much no3 in my opinion. You might want to double the no3 dose if you do 50% water changes and see what happens. Do you have a Lamotte or Hach no3 kit? If not try to double the dose and do the 50% weekly water change.

Hi light also means 3.5 W/g. You should really get the tank stable at 3 or 3.5 W/g first before trying to run the tank on Amphetamines (>3 W/g). :lol:

Steve