nutrient targets anyone?

[logan5]

Anyone know what I should be targetting as far as nutrients are concerned in my planted tanks?

Nitrates? Phosphates? Iron? Potassium? Co2?

And more importantly ... how does one test for Iron and Potassium?

THanks
Logan5

[eklikewhoa]

Re: nutrient targets anyone?

I had a page bookmarked on my laptop but its in the shop for a new screen.

I will try and find and post it here but to tell you the truth I have been using the EI method along with the chart from seachem. I don't test much or often either. No algae and everything looks healthy.


here it is.....

CO2 range 25-30 ppm
NO3 range 5-30 ppm
K+ range 10-30 ppm
PO4 range 1.0-2.0 ppm
Fe 0.2-0.5ppm or higher
GH range 3-5 degrees ~ 50ppm or higher
KH range 3-5

[logan5]

Re: nutrient targets anyone?

How does one test potassium and iron though?  From all I've read so far, Iron test kits are unreliable and I haven't seen a potassium test kit that I can afford.

Thanks
Logan5

[Ellen]

Re: nutrient targets anyone?

If you use KNO3 as your potassium source, measuring NO3 levels indirectly tells you if there is sufficient potassium available.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/wa...potassium.html <-- is a good link, I think it talks about what you're asking.

Ellen

[gt3guru]

Re: nutrient targets anyone?

When i started dosing (without enough CO2) i got a huge algea bloom, and I never got past 10ppm nitrates

[eklikewhoa]

Re: nutrient targets anyone?

to tell you the truth i just wing it. i think i might have checked parameters maybe once or twice.

i never witness a algae bloom and i rarely see string algae but its nice and green but minimal.

[Ramius]

Re: nutrient targets anyone?

I agree with Ek.. you can go greyheaded worrying about having the exact perfect conditions for everything but truth of the matter is.. if you just add a baseline amount and do your maintenance properly you will more than likely be fine. If you see your leaves start to turn yellow though, then bump up the potassium a little bit until the green returns.. just remember it's like adding salt to soup, if you add a little at a time you can always add more, but once you dump in too much, you can never turn it around. (although unlike soups, in a fishtank you can just drain a lot of water and refill)

Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is supposed to be a relaxing hobby to ease the stress of everyday life, not one that sends me into cardiac arrest becuse I'm afraid of crashing it.

BTW heres a link that may be usefull to you..

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/plant_problems.html