This is what I'm doing with my new planted tank

Batmanjay28

Batmanjay28

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Aug 22, 2006
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Oregon
I have a 55G planted tank. I would like to use some ferts for the time being while I what to get the c02 thingy. How do I dose the tank? DO I dose weekly, like every monday or something? This is what I'm gettting, Seachem Flourish Plant Supplements. Then in the next week or so I will be getting Hagen Plant Grow Natural System with CO2 form petsmart. Will that be enough c02 for my tank? If you don't have 30ppm of c02 but like 15 or 20ppm would that still be good for the plants? Is the c02 thing from petsmart going to work?

And I'm I going to have a problem with the fact that I'm not going to be able to get the c02 thing until the 10th of Febuary.
 
java fern, amozon sword, micro sword, another type of carpet plants, Water Wisteria, Tape Grass. Thats about it but I would like to add somemore lower light plants so I don't have to add so much c02. Any ideas on what I could do or add? Should I take some of those plants out?
 
I agree. You would be much better off just buying the bubble counter/diffuser and building your own CO2 generators. You are going to need a minimum of 4 liters of mix and 6 would be better.

As for ferts Seachem makes a fine product line. But it gets expensive real quick paying for the water. Buying bulk dry nutrients is much cheaper. www.gregwatson.com is the best source.

Take a few minutes and read my Guide. I have a cost comparison in there with bulk dry nutrients vs the Seachem products. I also have tips on building your own DIY CO2 system.
 
Rex Grigg said:
I agree. You would be much better off just buying the bubble counter/diffuser and building your own CO2 generators. You are going to need a minimum of 4 liters of mix and 6 would be better.

As for ferts Seachem makes a fine product line. But it gets expensive real quick paying for the water. Buying bulk dry nutrients is much cheaper. www.gregwatson.com is the best source.

Take a few minutes and read my Guide. I have a cost comparison in there with bulk dry nutrients vs the Seachem products. I also have tips on building your own DIY CO2 system.
Click to expand...


I have read your page and I'm need to no that I should get. You tell me what I need for the tank and I'll probably get it.....but from reading about the ideas I'm not sure what things I should get for my planted tank.....so I need your help in that I would like you to tell me what I should get.
 
These products are very inexpensive. You can find them at Safeway, Walgreens and Home Depot.

For Traces - use Flourish - 10mls 2x week
For Nitrate (N) - use (KNO3), such as Spectracide Stump Remover, Salt Petre, Green Light Stump Remover, Grant's Stump Remover
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"

This list is from the sticky at the top of this thread.
 
The problem with using products like stump remover is that they can and will change the formula at any time without notice. I prefer to get a pound of KNO3 (which is cheaper than stump remover anyway) from Greg Watson.

For a low tech 55 gallon tank I would suggest:

1 lb of KNO3 for dosing nitrates
1 lb of KH2PO4 for dosing phosphates
1 lb of K2SO4 for dosing potassium
1 lb of Plantex CSM+B which will dose traces and iron.

If you water has very low gH you might need to pick up some Epsom salts for magnesium and get a pound of CaCl2 for dosing calcium. If your water has 3-4° of gH and you do regular water changes then the chances are you will be just fine.

Also if that potassium dosing is taken from a sticky here then it needs to be changed.

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.
Click to expand...

That dosing will add 2.4 ppm of potassium to a 30 gallon tank with each dose. You should be dosing about 10X that.
 
Rex Grigg said:
The problem with using products like stump remover is that they can and will change the formula at any time without notice. I prefer to get a pound of KNO3 (which is cheaper than stump remover anyway) from Greg Watson.

For a low tech 55 gallon tank I would suggest:

1 lb of KNO3 for dosing nitrates
1 lb of KH2PO4 for dosing phosphates
1 lb of K2SO4 for dosing potassium
1 lb of Plantex CSM+B which will dose traces and iron.

If you water has very low gH you might need to pick up some Epsom salts for magnesium and get a pound of CaCl2 for dosing calcium. If your water has 3-4° of gH and you do regular water changes then the chances are you will be just fine.

Also if that potassium dosing is taken from a sticky here then it needs to be changed.



That dosing will add 2.4 ppm of potassium to a 30 gallon tank with each dose. You should be dosing about 10X that.
Click to expand...



From what you have told me about what I'm going to get for ferts, how much do I us in a week and how many times?Or is it on the back of the 1lb on 1 lb of KNO3 for dosing nitrates
1 lb of KH2PO4 for dosing phosphates
1 lb of K2SO4 for dosing potassium
1 lb of Plantex CSM+B which will dose traces and iron?
 
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