Milan Posted December 27, 2005 Report Share Posted December 27, 2005 Seems like this is not going to be an easy one ... I would assume both pieces of bogwood are genuine from lfs too ... Well, I think the last resort is to take your hardscape, piece by piece into a bucket with clean water and soak it in there for 24 hrs. Take PO4 readings before and after. Hopefully this reveals the culprit ... The spike should be significant (say >5.0) ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garhan Posted December 27, 2005 Report Share Posted December 27, 2005 On some of the other sites, there are several to many complaints about Eco-complete boosting P04 levels. In some cases it also still exsists after rinsing the gravel thouroghly. You might want to do a test in two cups of tap water. 1 with just tap water and a P04 reading if it exsists at all. The second cup place well rinsed eco complete into the cup and do a P04 reading. After 48 hours do P04 readings again on both cups. Garhan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted December 28, 2005 Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 Ok, here's what I would do: Since you aren't adding any macronutrients (other than fish food?), I'd add a bit of KNO3. Not a lot, just enough to get your nitrates to around 5-10ppm. Your tank isn't very heavily planted, so it might take the plants a few days to use up all the macros, but this might help with the PO4 problem. Plants need NPK (+ the micros you're adding), so if there is only P in the water the plants will stop taking it up. If you increase the amount of N & K, the plants will take up the P as well. Also, the peat has colored the water a bit. Not sure how many Watts/gal you're using, but if you're looking for good plant growth, I'd up it to at least 3, if not 4. My 2 ¢ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magicide Posted December 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 I have the lighting for 3.5 watts/gallon but I haven't built a top for the tank to support it yet. I have been trying to find the best chemicals for macro dosing of nutrients but I haven't found the right ones yet that are also easily available locally. As far as my PO4 problem I have some gravel and stones soaking in some fresh tap water to see if they are what is causing the problem, I'll let it go another 24 hours before I check on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted December 28, 2005 Report Share Posted December 28, 2005 If you're able to get mobile this week(end), and can make your way to the Southside, I'll hook you up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan Posted December 29, 2005 Report Share Posted December 29, 2005 Plants need NPK (+ the micros you're adding), so if there is only P in the water the plants will stop taking it up. If you increase the amount of N & K, the plants will take up the P as well. Jvision, I can see your point, but there is no way he can amount such a concetration of PO4 by mere N and/or K limitation, and whitout adding it. It has to be coming from a piece of hardscape ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garhan Posted December 29, 2005 Report Share Posted December 29, 2005 (edited) I agree with Milan. Before you go chasing the chemistry. Check out the gravel. It is well recognized as a problem area. I dont mean to be contradicting anyone, but as long as you have 2 watts per gallon on tanks over 20 gallon, you can grow most plants with a good fertilizer program and C02. There are few exceptions to this as a rule. Garhan Edited December 29, 2005 by Garhan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 Magicide, I'm just curious, if you have any update on your PO4 issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magicide Posted January 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 Had to run out of town for a week and my sample water was drained. Have to start the testing again. I should know in a couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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