Clarification needed for the fert. sticky....

[joe schmoe]

Specifically...how much Flourish per how many gallons?? 10mls twice a week on what sized tank?? Is the dosing the same on a low-tech/low-light tank?? I think that distinction needs to be made for us newbies.

And why the difference between the product recommendations (1-2ml per 50 gallons 1-2 times a week) and what's recommended here??

The end of some of the leaves on my Java Ferns are turning transparent...and are aparently dying. New sprouts (right term?) have also turned transparent. Obviously, I just bought my first bottles of Flourish and Flourish iron...hence the questions. Just minutes ago I dropped 3mls into my 120 gal low light tank per the bottle instructions. So far, at least the algae is strong and healthy :p. I have only one test kit....so Nitrates are @ ~15PPM. The money well has temporarily run dry due to a vacation in 1 week...so any expenditures are gonna have to wait a couple of weeks.


Originally posted by nanahachi

Absolute Must Haves - Traces & Macros (N, P, K)

For Traces - use Flourish - 10mls 2x week
For Nitrate (N) - use Spectracide Stump Remover (KNO3) or Salt Petre
For Phosphate (P) - use Fleet Enema (KH2PO4) - 3 or 4 drops after water change. Test at mid week and if under .5ppm dose again to reach 1.0ppm.
For Potassium (K) - use No-Salt / Nu-Salt (KCL) - 1/4 tsp. per 20 gals. after water change. Or you can mix a stock solution and keep in the refrigerator. Mix 1tbsp. K2SO4 with tap water in a 300ml bottle. Shake WELL until dissolved and dose 10ml 2x week in a tank of 30 gal. and over and 1x week in a tank smaller than 30 gal.


Should Haves - Micronutrients
For Magnesium - use Epsom Salt
For Iron - use Flourish Iron - 5mls per 20 gals. 2x week
For Carbon - use Flourish Excel &/or CO2 injection (DIY or pressurized)
To increase KH (Carbonate Hardness) - Baking Soda or Crushed Coral
Nutrients for plant roots – Jobes (fern & palm) or Flourish "Root tabs"

[125gJoe]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by joe schmoe
Specifically...how much Flourish per how many gallons?? ......1 or 2 ml per 50 gallons... Once or twice weekly.. Sounds like it's ok to vary the amounts.

[Booswalia]

I agree, the sticky should be clarified in a few places. I question it every time I refer to it and then make a guess at it......
......which is what I do when I don't refer to it. :confused:

It's a really good capsule of information for the newbie, but it's a potential disaster for them without ALL the details.

[djlen]

You need to bring the Nitrates down a bit. Check your tap water to see how much you're getting in it. Best level for most tanks is in the 5 - 10ppm range.

If you are more comfortable with dosing Traces @ the recommended levels given on the bottle then that's what you should do. Many of us have found that dosing Traces in higher concentrations, than those given on the bottle, is required to maintain our particular tanks.
The references to dosing are based on a weekly water change of 30 - 50% which will re-set the tank on a weekly basis. This keeps one from letting any particular element build up within the tank.

Len

[joe schmoe]

Just to make a correction for accuracy's sake, I was reading my Nitrates off of the saltwater scale instead of the freshwater scale :o . The Nitrates are actually about 7PPM per a test yesterday (same color as first test).