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Re: The Estimative Index of Dosing, or No Need for Test Kits
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Re: The Estimative Index of Dosing, or No Need for Test Kits - 02-22-2005, 06:00 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aviel Livay
The fact that many end up with 20 ppm doesn't change my calculation showing minimum of 17.5ppm and maximum of 35 ppm. Do you agree with my calculations? do you understand that if I want to stick to the EI then this is what I shall get?????? Do you think it's fine to grow Eusteralis/Macrandra with these levels? Will it optimize their colors????

Aviel.

I see no promblem. The calculations seem fine, not sure what type of test kit you are using, or if you are measuring based on the dosing calculators, whether you are asumming uptake by the plants etc.
Even a healthy growing tank will not use more than 20-25ppm per week.

But adding "just enough" is not the point.

The EI can easily be adjusted if you chose to reduce the amount or have another target, I do not set things in stone or insist to add this much, I am clear about letting folks know that this is the assumed maxmimum amount a tank will need.

If you wish to back off and reduce it to 1/2 that amount of KNO3, be my guest.

I can grow ES/RM are less for sure.............but at higher light, I like more nutrients.

At lower light, I'll use less, it's not needed at that level.
You can also do larger water changes as well.

17-35ppm is about in the 20-25ppm range, a few ppm outside the range is not a big deal.

If the level falls to 10ppm or 5ppm, no big deal, we do and often forget to dose every so often.....................

So that higher levels helps over time when we forget to dose. Folks seldom over dose by dosing 2x a day etc, so this helps that issue.

A water change removes it back down.
The water change routine is not set in stone either, you can do 30% 2x a week, 50% 3x a week, 75% once a week, 60% every 2 weeks etc.

Whatever floats your boat.
I'd try to keep the NO3 down to some degree due to waste and simply not needing more than 2ppm of PO3, 25-30ppm of NO3.

You gain nothing by adding more.

All these recommendations are for is helping folks get back on track. You certainly might need less(most do), but the excess is not going to hurt unless you really go to extremes.

Regards,
Tom Barr
  
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