Dosing fertilizer

Cory · Aug 9, 2015

Im setting up my mew tank soon, but im contemplating a different size than the one i got now. Anyhow, id like to dose ferrilizer in a small 5 gallon tank and run my red/blue led light over a diy algae turf scrubber to get it growing. Then when the new tank is ready I'll transfer the ats screen to the new tank and add fish immediately. Sort of an instant cycle i guess? So my question is:

Can i buy liquid plant food for flowers? And how much would i add to a 5 gallon tank?

Cory · Aug 9, 2015

I picked up a bottle of miracle grow. Id like the ratios to be in the redfield ratio, is it close? I chose one with less phosphorus.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 9, 2015

I suppose that's a reasonable thing to try.

I'd add about 0.05 grams to the 5 gallon tank to get to roughly 0.1 ppm phosphate.

Cory · Aug 9, 2015

Thanks Randy. Im sort of confused, measuring grams is ok for a liquid? I do have a precise scale to measure it in grams anyway. Ml is not better?

I dont want to bother you but how much nitrate should i expect to see for at .05 grams? Id like to test if the ats takes all the Po4 and No3 out. Then id like to weigh the algae to understand some things.

What about the potassium, will that be a huge jump in potassium?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 9, 2015

Nothing will get too high. I'm not thrilled about the EDTA, but in this application it should be OK.

twilliard · Aug 9, 2015

How about this

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 9, 2015

Are you asking if it is better? IMO, it looks nearly the same.

twilliard · Aug 9, 2015

Thanks Randy!

Cory · Aug 9, 2015

But twillard it doesnt say if it has iron does it? Thats what i like about mine.

Why is edta bad randy?

twilliard · Aug 9, 2015

Cory said:
But twillard it doesnt say if it has iron does it? Thats what i like about mine.

Why is edta bad randy?

EDTA is a chealator (sp?) it binds heavy metals. A quick Google search shows its used in the medical field also.
Let me look and see

Nope no iron. So your wanting to introduce iron for the algaes? No need for it if they have plenty of no3 and a little po4

Cory · Aug 9, 2015

Yes i found i couldnt grow hair algae in my previous tank without adding small amounts of iron.

I guess Randy thinks edta would bind useful minerals to algae. Im just guessing though.

TankRazr · Aug 10, 2015

Following along to see how this goes for you.

TR

Cory · Aug 10, 2015

Thanks TR, im hoping it goes good. In the pic below i used a 5 gallon bucket. The 5 gallon tank i had developed a small leak, so the bucket will do fine anyways. All thats going in is a plastic nitting screen which you can buy at Micheals or sewing shop. The algae will grow on this. And im using a fluval q2 air pump rated at 5500cc of air per minute. The screen is held down by a suction cup to the bottom of the bucket. Hopefulky is doesnt become unattached. Ill post pics along the way.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 10, 2015

In seawater, EDTA binds some trace metals so tightly that they are only bio available when broken down by UV light. It still may be enough in this application.

Cory · Aug 10, 2015

Thanks randy. I do got some iron gluconate pills on hand to make a micro brew of iron. Well see if this works.

I tried to put a drop of the fertilizer in a cup with the scale. Unfortunately i could only get .25g in the bucket. I guess po4 would be something like .5ppm? Also the bucket isnt full, about 3/4 the way up so id say its more like 4 gallons. So im probably at a much higher po4 than you suggested! Lol

Cory · Aug 10, 2015

Heres pics of day 1

leptang · Aug 10, 2015

Are you going to seed the screen with some algae?

Cory · Aug 10, 2015

No seeding, however that screen was unwashed from my last tank poor ats and has some dried algae flakes on the screen ihope will help seed it. If i didnt have a seeded screen i wouldnt seed it anyway, algae seems to float in the air anyhow lol. However seeding the screen would shorten the wait time for sure.

The led light is a par 38 red/blue 3w x 9leds. Its specifically made for growing plants. Im guessing it has a few 660nm"s in it. On my last tank it grew chaeto a lot! It would fill the tanks sump (20 gallon) half full and stuffed with chaeto every month! So im happy with this light.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 11, 2015

Cory said:
Thanks randy. I do got some iron gluconate pills on hand to make a micro brew of iron. Well see if this works.

I tried to put a drop of the fertilizer in a cup with the scale. Unfortunately i could only get .25g in the bucket. I guess po4 would be something like .5ppm? Also the bucket isnt full, about 3/4 the way up so id say its more like 4 gallons. So im probably at a much higher po4 than you suggested! Lol

Put 1 gram fertilizer in 100g grams of fresh water.

Then take 5 grams of this mixture and add to the 5 gallon tank to effectively add 0.05 grams of the starting material.

Cory · Aug 19, 2015

Thanks. So im getting little to no algae growth. I tested po4 at .50 ppm and no3 came out as zero. Im not sure why there is no nitrate, doesnt that bottle contain it? I meed to add some nitrate some how.