Liquid fertilizer opinions please.

[PPMN]

I already have eco complete substrate and put clay balls under my swords. I am currently using a locally made liquid fert but don't like it. What are everyone's opinions on the best liquid fert that will add everything my plants need? Brands?

[Mgamer20o0]

if you really want the best and cheapest ditch the liquid and go with the dry stuff.

yuo can get dry ferts here.
http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/ferts.html


http://www.rexgrigg.com/ferts.htm

Why would you want to use bulk nutrients. Well here are some numbers.

If you are dosing 60gallons of water with Flourish Potassium you would need 100 ml to get to 20 ppm.

If you are dosing 60 gallons of water with Flourish Phosphorus you would need to dose 48 ml to get to 1 ppm.

If you are dosing 60 gallons of water with Flourish Nitrogen you would need to dose 30 ml to get to 10 ppm.

Flourish Potassium is $6 mail order for 500 ml. So if you dose once a week that bottle will last you 5 weeks. Cost would $1.25 a week to dose potassium.

Flourish Phosphorus is $7.50 mail order for 500 ml. So if you dose once a week that bottle would last you 10 weeks. Cost would be 75¢ a week to dose Phosphorus.

Seachem Nitrogen is $7.50 mail order for 500 ml. So if you dose once a week that bottle will last you 16 weeks. Cost would be 47¢ a week to dose nitrates.

Total cost for one dose a week with Seachem $~2.75. Note there is no shipping factored in here and there are some rounding errors.

To dose the same tank with bulk nutrients.

Nitrates 2¢ a dose.
Phosphates .2¢ a dose. Note that is 5 doses for a penny.
Potassium 4¢ a dose.

Total cost for one dose a week with dry nutrients 6.2¢

Seachem products cost 44X as much per week.

Note these prices do not include shipping charges and there are some rounding errors.

So that pretty much settles that one.

[PPMN]

Wow gamer. I had no idea. What a crock!!! Thanks sooooo much for the info.

Can I ask, because it's dry does that mean it goes in the substrate or mix with the water? I know a lot of plants are leaf feeders. Also, would the package tell me how much of each to add? Knowing myself I'd probably kill off the tank trying to figure it out myself.

[Mgamer20o0]

add to the water. i wouldnt start at those levels i start one tank size bellow and tweak it as i need it.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/science-aquatic-fertilizing/15225-estimative-index-dosing-guide.html

10- 20 Gallon Aquariums
+/- 1/8 tsp KN03 (N) 3x a week
+/- 1/32 tsp KH2P04 (P) 3x a week
+/- 1/32 tsp (2ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change


20-40 Gallon Aquariums
+/- ¼ tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/16 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- 1/16 tsp (5ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change


40-60 Gallon Aquariums
+/- 1/2 tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/8 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- 1/8 (10ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change


60 – 80 Gallon Aquariums
+/- 3/4 tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- ¼ tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- ¼ tsp (20ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change


100 - 125 Gallon Aquarium
+/- 1 1/2 tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- ½ tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- ½ tsp (30ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change