[APD] Tom Barr recommendations not working??

["Rick Engstrom" <rick703 at mts_net>]

Back in November I posted a message about deficiencies in my plants which
mainly consist of the leaves curling up on my Java Ferns, Sag etc.
Cryptocorynes such as Undulata have leaves that started out nice and green
and although they appear to be growing decently are turning brownish. Cryp.
wendtii leave are very pale green , kinda black spotted and thin looking.
Anyway Tom recommended dry dosing ferts.

KN03  1/2 tsp x 2 week
KH2P04..1/8th tsp 1 or 2 x week
K2S04  1/2-3/4 tsp after water change only
10 mls trace 2 x week.

I mixed up trace at 1 tbls per 500 ml. ( just made a new mix today and will
try 2 tbls. in 500 ml, maybe it will help)

A subsequent posting resulted in a suggestion to stop the KH2P04 which I
have and up the trace to 15 mls which I did however my plants are still
looking terrible, well most of them anyway. I don't see much pearling at all
except for some small bubbles rising to the surface toward the end of the
day. Current settings are.

77g heavily planted
gravel substrate
PH 6.8 changes to 6.9 just before lights out
GH 100
KH 70
160 watts of T12 lighting consisting of 4 Grolux plant bulbs in two strip
lights.
compressed CO2 injected via intake of Fluval filter
Nitrate as measured by cheapo Hagen kit appears to be around 5 ppm.
Weekly 50% water changes.

What has shown up since I started this is spot algae on the glass which
really requires scrubbing with my magnet to get it off. As I have a black
background I didn't notice until tonight while I was scrubbing the front
glass that the back glass is almost completely covered with the stuff. It
will be razor blade scraping tomorrow when I do my water change.

 I have just finished having a canopy made up that will house 6 x 32 watt
T8's and intended to change the gravel to Flourite however I likely will not
get this finished for awhile yet. So what is it going to take to get these
plants pearling away and growing well. Sorry for the long post and thx. for
any suggestions.

Rick



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