waht kind of fertilizers?

[Andy16]

What kind of fertilizer do i need? I still dont know all about this part of keeping live plants.

[superjohnny]

That's a pretty general question Andy. Different plants have different needs.

[Andy16]

ummmm, well then im not too sure waht ot say. I will be able to keep any type light plants. I dont know what kind i will get yet.

[djlen]

Andy, check out the sticky at the top of the page. It will tell you the whats......then you can figure out the how much from there.
Len

[Andy16]

So i need all of those? Even the flourish excel if i am going to make a co2 system?

[djlen]

N,P,K and Traces. How much of each will depend on plant load and to a large degree, your lighting. Iron on occasion if needed.
Excel is not needed when injecting CO2. CO2 is not generally needed in a small tank with moderate lighting. In that case you can use Excel.
Len

[Andy16]

Well i will have 55 watts of light. If excel is easier then injecting co2 i will do taht itstead. MY tank is 20 gallons, i dont know if that is considered small, or if you mean like 5-10 gallon tanks.

Thanks you for all of your help.;)

So now i will be getting:
flourish
flourish nitrogen, for nitrates
flourish pottasium
flourish phosphorous, for phosphate
flourish iron

Does this all sound right?

[djlen]

You have almost 3 watts/gal. It's really a tough call, but I would suggest CO2 injection for that much light. I don't think Excel will do it for you and especially in a heavily planted tank, it definitely won't be cost effective. For that matter, the other SeaChem products you mention will probably be pretty costly in the long run as well.
You could buy all of the Flourish products you mention and see how fast you use them up to determine cost effectiveness and then either re-purchase or go with the substitutes in the sticky at the top of the page. Or start looking around for those substitutes from the start. The Flourish stuff you mention is good and effective, but costly.
An Example: Not sure what a bottle of Flourish Phosphorous costs, but I bought a bottle of Fleets Enema at the pharmacy for a couple of bucks 5 months ago, and it'll probably last me a year!!!
Len

[superjohnny]

Funny story...

I asked my wife to pick up some Fleet enema at the store and she said, "awww, is your stomach feeling ok? Have you been constipated?"

No baby, it's for my fish tank... really.

[Andy16]

:p :D :p Thats pretty funny superjohny! I wonder what my parents will think. hehehe

what exactly is Fleet enema?

Ok wait, your saying i have to put laxatives in my fish tank?


(poor fishies)

[wetmanNY]

Andy,

"Jared Weinberger's "Planted-Tank Resources" at http://www.brainyday.com/jared/aquarium/info.htm originated as an individual site, but Jared's thoughtful editing has made this the single best first stop for basic information on planted aquaria, plus a choice selection of the best articles about lighting, substrates, algae control, fertilizers, with comprehensive *links to the major plant databases and to **Soren Reinke's Aquatic Plant Search Engine at http://www.disky-design.dk/fish/index.html "

--- www.skepticalaquarist.com

Bookmark Jared's website!

[Andy16]

thanks for the great links wetman;)

[Godslayer]

Funny story...

I asked my wife to pick up some Fleet enema at the store and she said, "awww, is your stomach feeling ok? Have you been constipated?"
.

I had my girlfriend buy it while I stood behind her with a grin on my face.... :D

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Godslayer
I had my girlfriend buy it while I stood behind her with a grin on my face.... :D
Deserves: :D :D :D

[125gJoe]

wetmanNY, thanks for posting the websites! Got'em 'marked.. :)

[superjohnny]

Originally posted by Godslayer


I had my girlfriend buy it while I stood behind her with a grin on my face.... :D

LoL, nice :D