In the quest for the most beautiful planted tank, aquarists have long experimented with getting the perfect dosing schedule down that ensures optimum plant growth, without plant deficiencies and minimal algae. You’ve probably heard of dosing liquid fertilizers and root tabs, but there is another way of managing the nutrient levels in your tank.
The Estimative Index (EI) is a more measured and hands-on approach, but it is great for the more advanced aquarist who takes plant growing seriously and is ready to take the aquarium hobby to the next level. In this article, I’ll break down exactly how it works, and teach you everything you need to know to get you started.