Plant Ferts for idiots

[vequalsir]

I'd like add more plants to my tank.

Right now I'm dosing the tank daily with flourish excel and trice a week with flourish. Inert substrate. low to moderate light plants.

My wpg is just a bit under 2wpg. No co2, but I have a DIY set up all ready to go.

My plants I currenly have are not looking to good. I'm know I need a better fert routine and products.

I'm looking at getting some pmdd from aquariumferitilizer.com.

What I'm looking for is a good general mix of ferts that will allow me to easily maintain the tank with. I understand that this will not give a rapidly growing show tank. I'm just looking to keep healthy plants.

[avionics30]

Your setup seems to be OK as far as lighting is concerned with low to mod light plants. You could probably kick up the growth and overall health with the addition of CO2. If you are looking for dry ferts, the site that you mentioned in your post is the way to go. I do not buy PMDD. I use CSM+B and then purchase the Nitrate, Phosphate and Potassium monophosphate seperately. I add to that mix some epsom salt from the drug store, some baking soda for low Ph buffering (only use this if your Ph is in the 6.? range and you Kh is less than 3). I mix one bottle of CSM+B and in another the NPK with epsom and baking soda. I dose these every other day at abou 20ml per 100 gallon. The dose all depends on your plants, light and CO2.

Remember, this is not an exact science. When you begin to tinker with this you will have to guage the progress and make adjustments as needed for optimal results. I wish you luck!

[Hurley]

Which plants do you have already. What are you looking to add?

[vequalsir]

I have some sword and some other plants I grew from bulb I bought ay my LFS. Not sure what they were.

I've gone ahead and ordered some pmdd. I'll with that and perhaps hook up some DIY co2

[AshK]

What sized tank is this? What type of lighting do you have? What is the substrate? Dosing fertz into the water column may not benefit the sword and bulbs as much as enriching the substrate. (Some one more knowledgeable can comment further on that) Also, I'm not sure what fertz you ordered, but a common cause of poor sword growth is lack of iron. You can make your own root tabs out of dry fertz and clay, if you're so inclined. Also, some bulbs sold go through/need a dormant period. If the leaves are dying back this may be what you are experiencing.

[Hurley]

Dosing fertz into the water column may not benefit the sword and bulbs as much as enriching the substrate.


This was my thought as well. Since you mentioned you have a sword I would suggest also picking up some root tabs to put in the substrate.

[avionics30]

I use play sand with no substrate ferts and mine look great 2 years running??