Fertilizer Question

If your CO2 is 17ppm and you are adding CO2 gas (from DIY?), then Excel is not needed.

Trace= the flourish, this will help. Add 5mls 2x aweek.
Flourish potassium: Add enough to get 20ppm once a week.

Do 50% weekly water changes. Call tap water company, see what the PO4 is or if they add polyphosphates to their/your supply. If so, that will take care of the PO4 needs of the plants.

K2SO4 is cheaper than Flourish K+/potassium. 5$ worth would last 10 years, maybe more for all the K+ needs.
KNO3 can be added if the levels dips down below 5ppm. About the same cost as the K2SO4.

For some more info:
http://www.aquatic-plants.org/fert/est_index/est_index1.html

You'll spend much less time measuring and guessing if you do a simple routine.

Regards,
Tom Barr

You know more than you think. It is evident in your initial post.
Regards,
Tom Barr

With 50% water changes, I hope that fertilized fish water is going onto your garden.

Dug this up from the link in the sticky.

Why 50% water changes? And why weekly? My impression of having live plants is that they use up some nitrate so you have better water quality and may be able to do less than weekly water changes. I realize there is more to water quality (and chemistry) than nitrate, unfortunately I don't understand all the whats and whys. There must be something else going on?

beviking - I thought I was in a time warp or something when I looked at the dates on those posts. Don't do that to me anymore .
The best reason I've heard for doing weekly water changes is from Tom Barr. It will re-set your tank after a week of dosing.
When dosing ferts, some of us have a tendency to over fertilize or just plain make mistakes. There are some substances in what we put into our tanks that can be toxic if allowed to build up. Most Trace elements, for example, contain copper. This can accumulate in the water table and needs to be removed/diluted.

Some of us operate(dosage-wise) right on the edge and I personally feel the need to do a 30-50% change for my own peace of mind.
I also love to watch the fish during and after the water change. Mine obviously love it.......plants as well. My plants, IMO wouldn't grow as well without it. The 'clean' water also helps to curb algae, especially when combined with an occasional gravel vacuuming.
And it's an enjoyable activity for me.

Len

Hey Tyler - how's that tank doing, 9 months later?

Seems like ages doesn't it!!??!!

Len

Time warp x3.
I said what? when?

Good frequent water changes= prevent anything from build up
Dosing regularly 2-3x a week prevents anything from running out

This maintains a good supply of nuttrients all the time for the plants.

It also removes any dissolved organic material and wood tannins and extra detritus/dead plant materials.

Do it and see what you think for 3-4 weeks.

Regards,
Tom Barr