Transitioning to Depleted Aquasoil

[BenB]

My new set up is 18 days old, and my NO3 has been going strong. However, today it was 0. I haven't tested often. I am a bit surprised, I thought I would get a reading for quite awhile. I know there is still ammonia being released by the soil, but it seems it is time for me to start thinking about how I'm going to dose nitrates. I've been dosing phos and K.

FWIW Three plants have cyano on them. 2Hr Aquarist says this could be a sign of low nitrates.

What are your recommendations for how to decide what the best dose of NPK is?

 

[Syngonaut]

Hey, Ben!

What kind of tank are you running?

 

[Pepere]

A whole host of articles to peruse at the 2 Hr Aquarist…

Fertilizers

Do you need to fertilize aquarium plants? How to dose your planted tank? Read The 2Hr Aquarist’s detailed analysis to plant metabolic requirements and the smart way to approach those needs.

www.2hraquarist.com

One of my favorite resource sites.

 

[BenB]

What kind of tank are you running?

Well, it just so happens, I have a new journal! HERE

A whole host of articles to peruse at the 2 Hr Aquarist…

Fertilizers

Do you need to fertilize aquarium plants? How to dose your planted tank? Read The 2Hr Aquarist’s detailed analysis to plant metabolic requirements and the smart way to approach those needs.

www.2hraquarist.com

One of my favorite resource sites.

Yeah, but if the aquasoil depletes, Dennis prefer you to replace it or add APT Jazz capsules rather than DIY dosing.
See this exchange I had with him HERE. And I agree, his site is amazing. I read something there weekly if not more often it seems.

 

[Sb1415]

Maybe others who have used aqua soil for a long time can comment. But I don’t think your aqua soil is depleted, I think it has stopped leaching ammonia into the water column. Maybe that is what you meant but I think the title made me think again.

I think it just means you can stop doing more frequent water changes and start doing nitrogen based on your fertilizer plan.

In regards to choosing the NPK, looks like based on Dennis posts there are 3 main groups of ADA approach of low to zero nitrate in water column, EI approach of dosing high fertilizers to a nitrate of >10 (I think the number is really not important but rather the concept that one has to have high nitrogen and phos in the water column, maybe instead of calling it as EI, I should say Water column nitrogen approach as a better term) and the 2hr aquarist way of going somewhere between. So depending on who decides to answer I guess there will be lot of variation. Reading through this forum, my thought is that there are more people in this forum doing sort of an EI based approach rather than the ADA approach.

 

[BenB]

I don’t think your aqua soil is depleted, I think it has stopped leaching ammonia into the water column. Maybe that is what you meant but I think the title made me think again.

Its cool. Yeah, I know there will be some down in the soil awhile, but this made me think I need to plan for when it is gone. Also, I don't know if I want my water nitrate level to be 0. Not sure about that.

In regards to choosing the NPK, looks like based on Dennis posts there are 3 main groups of ADA approach of low to zero nitrate in water column, EI approach of dosing high fertilizers to a nitrate of >10 (I think the number is really not important but rather the concept that one has to have high nitrogen and phos in the water column, maybe instead of calling it as EI, I should say Water column nitrogen approach as a better term) and the 2hr aquarist way of going somewhere between. So depending on who decides to answer I guess there will be lot of variation. Reading through this forum, my thought is that there are more people in this forum doing sort of an EI based approach rather than the ADA approach.

I've always done EI in the past. Was planning on sticking with that. The problem with 2Hr is the need to add every day. I'd like to front load like Greg, but I need to get basic EI down first.

My concerns are finding a dose that is enough that the level says up but not so high as to encourage algae. I usually do a larger dose after the weekly water change and then ever other day smaller doses afterwards, but I can't find that sweet spot of having just enough or not too much. This time around might be different though. I was wrestling with all kinds of issues last time.

I'm not in a hurry. The soil should be good to go for a few more months, but I don't want to be caught flat footed then.

 

[TimmyO2]

Maybe others who have used aqua soil for a long time can comment. But I don’t think your aqua soil is depleted, I think it has stopped leaching ammonia into the water column. Maybe that is what you meant but I think the title made me think again.

I think it just means you can stop doing more frequent water changes and start doing nitrogen based on your fertilizer plan.

In regards to choosing the NPK, looks like based on Dennis posts there are 3 main groups of ADA approach of low to zero nitrate in water column, EI approach of dosing high fertilizers to a nitrate of >10 (I think the number is really not important but rather the concept that one has to have high nitrogen and phos in the water column, maybe instead of calling it as EI, I should say Water column nitrogen approach as a better term) and the 2hr aquarist way of going somewhere between. So depending on who decides to answer I guess there will be lot of variation. Reading through this forum, my thought is that there are more people in this forum doing sort of an EI based approach rather than the ADA approach.

Yeah I think they were talking more about the fact they used UNS Controsoil. Compared to aquasoils like Amazonia V2 and Feast, Controsoil pretty much comes depleted. I used it a couple years back and I had to add ammonia to the tank just to get the cycle kickstarted. It just isn’t packed with nutrients but it will suck them soak them up like aquasoils should.