Digital BW, The Print

I am new to inkjet printing and bought an Epson C86 to convert to 
B&W with the MIS EZ ink set. From the begining I have experienced 
serious blocking of shadows with the MIS EZ inks on the C86?

I have to have the Brightness at +25 to avoid heavy blocking. I have 
tried many differant Contrast settings and have experimented with 
the Color sliders and basicly it won't print a decent print without 
the Brightness cranked all the way up.

I have the Gamma set at 1.8 and I have printed from PS2 and PS 
Elements 3 onto Kirkland Professional Glossy. Basicly I started with 
Paul Roark's recomended settings.

BTW, changing the color settings in PS CS or PS Elem 3 make no 
differance what so ever in the print. Is there something I am 
missing?
 

Also, Are the inks in the color positions all the same ink?

Thanks,
Charles Hamilton