Have some fertlizer here, wondering if it is safe...

[s_lionheart_13]

It is called Little Giant Aquatic Plant Fertlizer (10-14-8). Its garunteed analysis are:

Total Nitrogen: 10%
5.5% Ammonical Nitrogen
2.4% Nitrate Nitrogen
1.5% Urea Nitrogen
0.6% Water Insoluble Nitrogen

Avaliable Phosphate: 14%

Soluble Potash: 8%

Boron: 0.02%

Copper: 0.05%
0.05% Water Soulble Copper

Iron: 0.11%
0.11% Water Soluble Iron

Manganese: 0.12%
0.12% Water Soluble Manganese

Molybdenum: 0.0006%

Zinc: 0.07%
0.07% Water Soulble Zinc

I want to know if this will be safe for fish (tetras, guppies, cory catfish). Thanks!

[MP]

Sounds OK for fish, but are you really sure you want to add nitrogen and phosphates to your tanks?

[s_lionheart_13]

It is in very small amounts, and plants absorb these, don't they?

[Richer]

There is no need to do a double post. Pick one area and post your question there.

The stuff looks ok to be added to a fish tank w/o harming the fish.

-Richer

[MP]

What are nitrate and phosphate readings in your tank water?

You have to understand, that those are added only if you have a real shortage of them. Otherwise, you're risking to get severe problems with algae.

In real life, nitrates may need to be supplemented in densely planted and actively growing tanks with low fish load. Additions of phosphates are needed extremely rarely (and, mostly, in plants-only tanks). Both, nitrogen and phosphorus, are brought to the tanks with fish food, so the higher your bioload is, the less likely you'll need any additional source of nitrogen and phosphorus. Most often, we see people struggling to limit those and not add more of them.

Copper supplement, IMO, is not needed and may be dangerous in a long run for your plants and inverts. Your tap water should provide more than enough of it.

[s_lionheart_13]

Nitrates: 0
Phoshphate: .03 ppm

Is this safe?

[s_lionheart_13]

Richer, nothing personal, but lay off a bit. I posted it in two places because some people don't go to all the boards. I was hoping to get more responses. Settle down;)!

[MP]

Tell us about your tank: size, age, population, plants, light, CO2 supplementation, etc.

What test kits did you use to get those results?

[wetmanNY]

Richer is correct.

[s_lionheart_13]

It is a 29 gallon tank that is approx. 3 weeks old. I got these results with a tetra test kit. It is understocked with only 2 black skirted tetras, 4 guppies, and 1 cory catfish. I hope to convert it into a cichlid tank someday, but that is probably a ways off.

[MP]

I assume that you also have plants there. :)

If the tank is only 3-wk old, it still goes through cycling. Most likely, nitrates didn't even start forming there (but you may detect ammonia and nitrites). Phosphates didn't have a chance to accumulate.

I'd suggest you to concentrate on proper cycling for now. :) At the most, you may use root tablets to help your plants take off.

[NJ Devils Fan]

I agree with MP, let the tank fully cycle first.

[Orbitorly]

Agreed with MP, let the tank fully cycle

[Tempest]

I wouldn't put that fertilizer in my planted tank simply because of the ammonia analysis. I'd be afraid of a major green water breakout. I'd use a fertilizer in which the analysis indicated that the nitrogen was from nitrates. And if it were a low light plant tank ( less than 2watts per gallon), I'd use an aquatic fertilizer without nitrate or phosphate. I also don't even put plants in the low light tanks until the cycling is already complete.

[Richer]

Heh, its my job to make sure the space on this board is optimized. Server space and bandwidth don't come free.

Lets assume your tank has indeed cycled (ammonia and nitrites are at zero). It will be much more effective (and cheaper) to dose nutrients on their own.

Dose about 1/4 teaspoon of KNO3 (potassium nitrate) per 20-30 gallons of water to raise your nitrate levels to about 5-10ppm. About 1/2 K2SO4 (potassium sulfate), to raise your potassium levels. Looks like you already have phosphate in your water, so you don't need to dose that. Your going to also need to dose trace elements. I use Seachem's Fluorish Trace. 3-4 capfuls every 2-3 days.

The dosing I've recommended comes under the assumption that you have a high light, co2 injected system. If you are going for a low/moderate light system, feed heavily and let your fish produce the fertillizer for your plants.

HTH
-Richer