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"The Estimative Index" contradicting with PMDD?
My fish tank experienced all kinds of algae problems in past a few
months. I started PMDD practice, now I have virtually zero phosphate, 5-10ppm nitrate, and 15-20ppm potassium. All other types of algae are now gone, but the hair algae still linger. I thought they can not survive on zero phosphate? I then got a few SAE from internet, they look exactly like the true SAE pictures I found, however, I found them eating fish flakes instead of hair algae. My Oto work much harder than them. Since the fish couldn't control hair algae, I'm back to internet to try to find a solution, now I found Tom Barr's "The Estimative Index". It says you should have 1ppm phosphate in water volume. Now I am very confused, isn't PMDD's goal to make phosphate a limiting factor? Am I missing anything? Also, when you folks prune stem plants, do you cut them back in half or even more? FYI, my tank setup is, 75G, 240W, all flourite substrate, CO2 tank, PH=6.7, KH=4, GH=11, N=5-10ppm, P=0ppm (0.25-0.5 immediately after water change), K=15-20ppm, Iron=?, temperature=79F-82F (will be lower in winter), I don't add extra trace element (because I discovered that whenever I added flourish, I got hair algae bloom), planted in almost every inch. |
#2
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"The Estimative Index" contradicting with PMDD?
"BobWu" wrote in message om... My fish tank experienced all kinds of algae problems in past a few months. I started PMDD practice, now I have virtually zero phosphate, 5-10ppm nitrate, and 15-20ppm potassium. All other types of algae are now gone, but the hair algae still linger. I thought they can not survive on zero phosphate? I then got a few SAE from internet, they look exactly like the true SAE pictures I found, however, I found them eating fish flakes instead of hair algae. My Oto work much harder than them. Since the fish couldn't control hair algae, I'm back to internet to try to find a solution, now I found Tom Barr's "The Estimative Index". It says you should have 1ppm phosphate in water volume. Now I am very confused, isn't PMDD's goal to make phosphate a limiting factor? Am I missing anything? Also, when you folks prune stem plants, do you cut them back in half or even more? FYI, my tank setup is, 75G, 240W, all flourite substrate, CO2 tank, PH=6.7, KH=4, GH=11, N=5-10ppm, P=0ppm (0.25-0.5 immediately after water change), K=15-20ppm, Iron=?, temperature=79F-82F (will be lower in winter), I don't add extra trace element (because I discovered that whenever I added flourish, I got hair algae bloom), planted in almost every inch. Science marches on! The theories of PMDD have been worked on and more info added. Try the 1ppm phosphate! |
#3
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"The Estimative Index" contradicting with PMDD?
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#4
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"The Estimative Index" contradicting with PMDD?
Tom, thanks for typing in the detailed explanation of your practice.
If I read your post correctly, you are suggesting keeping a balanced dose of fertilizer (no limit on anything). I'm sure it will make plants happy, however, will you end up growing plants AND algae at the same time? I know in practice your tank doesn't have algae, but did you try to explain why algae don't grow with plenty of fertilizer and strong light? (BTW, how long do you light your tank a day?) Also, you said that you "trim about 1/4-1/3 off the bottom", do you mean you trim 1/4-1/3 off (remove top growth) or only leave 1/4-1/3 from the bottom? Thanks again. |
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