View Full Version : Does anyone else hate the smell of flourish?
NJ Devils Fan
10-05-2003, 9:54 AM
Is it just me, of does flourish just reek. I hate the smell of it so much. None of my other ferts smell except flourish. I try to hold it as far away from me as possible when I dose my tank.
Cearbhaill
10-05-2003, 10:41 AM
I've never even noticed an odor but will check for one when I dose tomorrow.
I do keep my ferts in the fridge, though.
djlen
10-05-2003, 12:32 PM
I really like the smell of it, and also Flourish Iron smells great.
But then, I love the smell of a bucket full of mulm freshly sucked out of the tank. To me it smells earthy and natural......good stuff.
Len
Hebdizzle
10-05-2003, 1:26 PM
I don't particulairly hate the smell of it either :)
Aaron
125gJoe
10-05-2003, 9:35 PM
Of SeaChem's liquid ferts, Flourish is the only one I see that needs refridgeration.
Should all of them be kept in the fridge??
NJ Devils Fan
10-05-2003, 11:23 PM
Why does flourish need to be kept in the fridge?
The liquid nitrogen supplement can mold if not refrigerated. Flourish just reacts with itself to smell if not refrigerated, not harmful, but not pleasing either.
goldfish freak
10-06-2003, 12:21 AM
I talked with a technical rep at Seachem and was told that the only Flourish product that needs to be refrigerated is Flourish.
NJ Devils Fan
10-06-2003, 7:30 AM
I haven't been refriging it, should I start now?
Raithan Ellis
10-06-2003, 11:00 AM
NJ Devils Fan - Yes, you should probably begin doing so. When in doubt, read the bottle.
somefinnfishy
10-06-2003, 3:38 PM
I use a bottle every month so I dont bother just keep it on the shelf no stinky here.
NJ Devils Fan
10-06-2003, 4:02 PM
Lemme ask you something, how many times a week/ how much do you use the flourish. I had been using it twice a week the recommended dosage, a little over 2 ml for my tank(72g). But, I remember somewhere around here someone said something about using it every day. It says 1-2 ml for each 50 gallons twice a week.
I have a 2-liter size bottle and have never refrigerated it with no problems at all. Smells and seems as effective as when it was new.
I think the Seachem people recommend low dosages to be cautious, which is a good thing I guess.
I have been using 15mls. at water change and 10mls. at mid week in my 55's and in my 40gal. with very good results and little algae issues. These are all moderately-heavy to heavily planted tanks with CO2 injection.
I use 4mls at water-change and 4 at mid week in my 10, also with good results and also with CO2 injection.
I don't believe the Traces needs to be dosed daily as it stays in the water column, unlike the Fe, which I dose daily.
Doing a 30 - 50% water-change every week re-sets the tank(as per Tom Barr) so I don't worry about any residual buildup.
Len
goldfish freak - check back with them and ask how bottles of nitrogen thet've had to replace from contamination with molds. Even the replacement they sent me first molded with 10 days or so of opening, and they replaced an entire shipment at my LFS. The second replacement bottle is kept under refrigeration and is fine.
NJ Devils Fan
10-06-2003, 6:29 PM
Isn't that a lot according to the directions djlen? You put 5 capfulls in a week? The directions say 1ml-2ml twice a week.
That is actually down 5mls. from a recommended dosage. It's really been working out well. I started dosing at that rate months ago and am happy with the results.
I think much of it depends on the amount of plants, and the amount dosed of N,P and K to balance. Also, of-course, lighting is an important factor, although one on my tanks is only 1.5 watts/gal.
I'm dosing 2mls/day of Fe. Some people thing it's nuts, but my Crypts are loving it.
I just think the Seachem people are being cautious with their recommendations. I tinkered with my dosages for quite a while before settling on what I'm using.
Len
125gJoe
10-08-2003, 12:38 PM
Seems like if the manufacturer says to refrigerate their product, then I would do it.... JMO
Booswalia
10-08-2003, 2:51 PM
They both smell like bananas to me.
NJ Devils Fan
10-08-2003, 3:36 PM
Well, today will be the last of this my current bottle of flourish. There is a few caps left, but I am just going to throw them away because I got more from Big Al's online, along with flourish trace and a big expensive algae magnet. I will be sure to refrigerate these.
ianjoe
10-08-2003, 3:43 PM
My magnet doesn't require refrigeration.....;)
Edit: Nice 80gJoe
SnakeIce
10-08-2003, 4:40 PM
It has a smell? I guess I never thought about it... the cow manure I have put on an outside garden smells worse
125gJoe
10-08-2003, 5:35 PM
Some magnets are on the door of the fridge, not inside!
http://www.the-art-works.com/fridgemags/refrig/fridgeani.gif
The Gipper
10-09-2003, 8:05 AM
Never noticed the smell either. I dose according to directions, and refrigerate.
Yes, my Flourish has this sort of insidious musk-y odor. I don't care for it, but it doesn't bother me too much. During my college days I did some synthesis involving thiols. Believe me - if you can put up with that, Flourish odor is nothing.
I'm not sure, but I think they recommend refrigerating the Flourish because it contains some vitamins and stuff that remain more stable at lower temperatures. Sometimes I forget to put it back in the fridge for days. It's probably lost a little of its potency, but I'm not too worried about it.