Biollante

Hi,

If what I write makes you angry, please go away, that is okay, I am not trying to make anyone angry, life is really too short.

I get a fair number of pm’s, emails and I find the sum total of the underlying questions about EI is, “Does it really work?” “Is it really that simple?

The sum total of my answer is yes, to both questions.

The strange thing is all the questions all the parts per this and parts per that. RO/DI, NH4,NO3-N, CaCO3, PO4, KNO3 K2SO4 and what is it K2HPO4 or KH2PO4, sometimes I feel as though I am reading one of those old comics when the characters cursed the balloon had &%#K2&^% SO$& ^%^&, it really is too much.

The basic answer is anyone can have a successful planted tank on straightforward EI dosing.

Decide what kind of tank you wish. Do yourself a favor and stick to ‘lower’ lighting and even lower if you are using T-5 lighting. More lighting more CO2, do not kid yourself. Pressurized CO2 is no place to skimp, a lot more on this later.

If this is your first attempt at a planted tank or you have been unsuccessful in the past give yourself a very large break and start with “easy, hardy” plants, consider a package deal.

Avoid jargon, ask if you see initials or acronyms you do not understand, a lot of folks that really do not know what they are talking about, or who want to sell you stuff, love jargon.

It may not seem like a big deal now, but think about water changes, you know you best. The time to drill or do some plumbing work is before the water goes in. Buy more pump than you think you need, consider a sump, good pumps, filters; are a good place to put your money. This is a hard concept for many new aquarists; ongoing maintenance will cost you more than the initial setup with everything.

When possible use dry fertilizers. Do not worry about overdosing your fertilizers, your plants and critters can take many times the recommended EI dosing. Start with the range recommended

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here http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2819-EI-light-for-those-less-techy-folks

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It really does not matter whether you dry dose that is put the ingredients directly into the tank, or use ‘stock’ solutions, that is dry fertilizers mixed with distilled or deionized water.

To start, ignore any advice that tells you to deviate. To start use the gross gallons of your tank, if it makes you feel better deduct ten percent.

Low light use the lower end of the scale. More light more fertilizers.

More light, more CO2.

More later.

Biollante