Desperatly seeking help

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:21 pm

what would be the recommended levels to start the lights at? Do I take out a bulb or reduce time?

fredyk · Post by **fredyk** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:41 pm

If it were me, and wanted to arrest an algae problem, I'd cut off the back strip. In fact, I am having an algae issue and did just that. Plants are just getting by, but the algae is less.

Edit: http://gwapa.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2758

Post by **krisw** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:52 pm

Bridget, are you not dosing KNO3 (nitrate)? If so how much?

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:09 pm

no because our last test reading for nitrate was 5ppm.

That was last checked at 12/6/08

Jeff120 · Post by **Jeff120** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:17 pm

Most test kits cant be trusted unless they are of high quality of have been calibrated. Your CO2 is also low, shoot for 30ppm. And measure it via a drop checker.

Post by **krisw** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:55 pm

OK, I would try dosing some KNO3. You can probably discontinue dosing the K2SO4 as well, as your adding K thru the nitrate and phosphate. Increase the CO2 as Jeff, suggested. On my 75G, the CO2 is at least 3-4 bubbles/second.

My guess is that nitrate is your limiting factor here.

magsdez · Post by **magsdez** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:13 am

Just rechecked everything. NO3: 5ppm, Phos: 5ppm, pH: 7.2, KH: 100ppm, GH: 140ppm, CO2: 9.3-11.2ppm, Fe: still waiting but expecting it to be 0ppm.
I don't have a drop checker and not sure how to increase the co2 with the system we have.

"I would try dosing some KNO3. You can probably discontinue dosing the K2SO4 as well"
? Discontinue both or just the K2SO4? Or discontinue K2SO4 and start dosing KNO3?

Should I also reduce the lighting as suggested?

Judi · Post by **Judi** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:17 am

I believe he meant to start dosing KNO3, but discontinue the K2SO4, since dosing KNO3 and KH2PO4 may provide enough K.

In my opinion, it wouldn't hurt to reduce the lighting as well.

Jeff120 · Post by **Jeff120** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:01 am

Your ratios are all out of wack, meaning if No3 is 5, PO4 should be about .2 or so and 5ppm of PO4 is pretty high. What type of CO2 do you have? If its pressurized just adjust the needle valve.
Also if you are using an Fe test kit those are pretty much useless, I never believed it myself until I wasted my money on one. Plants absorb Fe so fast that you never get a true reading. Anytime I ever tested it I go 0.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:13 am

I agree with Jeff and Kris that you're likely under dosing and not providing enough CO2.

Desperatly seeking help

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