Fertilizers

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Plague

O.o
Aug 4, 2010
718
0
0
Miami, Fl
So I have a 55 gallon 108w T5HO planted tank.

Plant list:
amazonian swords (2)
melon sword
water wisteria (4 stalks)
ludwigia (6 stalks)
java fern
anubia wrinkle leaf
and next week dwarf hair grass which I hope to carpet the bottom of my tank

I ran out of an Iron supplement I was using. Originally I bought it because I was having an iron deficiency in my previous ten gallon when I had it running. Once I switched to flourish and the 55 gallon I kept using it just to use it.

My question is do I need to use an iron supplement? I use flourish and excel. I'm not trying to get an award winning planted aquarium but I do want the plants to keep their nice colors. My ludwigia's have a very nice blood red after I dose the tank. Wondering if this will keep happening without dosing iron? I also saw that you can buy potassium and nitrogen from seachem. Wondering if I need this at all? Thanks for the help. BTW my tank has been running for 6 months like this. =P
 

jpappy789

Plants need meat too
Feb 18, 2007
26,364
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Gainesville, FL
Real Name
Josh
Flourish comp has iron, I believe, although I am not sue if it would technically be enough.

IMO, if you are considering running the flourish line (NPK + micros) then you might as well get bulk dry ferts. Much more economical and just as easy to dose.
 

Plague

O.o
Aug 4, 2010
718
0
0
Miami, Fl
I'm not sure if the ludwigia would benefit from dry ferts though. They have very shallow roots. I'm also using eco complete so I originally thought I wouldn't need iron. Thing is, I only dose once a week because that is what my plants need. But around the end of the week my ludwigia lose the red color. I just never have not used iron supplement to see if it would be enough with just plain flourish.
 

Plague

O.o
Aug 4, 2010
718
0
0
Miami, Fl
Didn't know that part o_O

So then I should use flourish and excel regularly with the tabs being replaced every 3 months? Sounds more economical than buying seachem iron.
 

Slappy*McFish

Global Moderator
Staff member
Feb 18, 2002
7,835
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Raleigh, NC

jpappy789

Plants need meat too
Feb 18, 2007
26,364
5
89
33
Gainesville, FL
Real Name
Josh

Plague

O.o
Aug 4, 2010
718
0
0
Miami, Fl
Is potassium really a must? I haven't seen any signs that show that I need it. But when I do add the dwarf hairgrass I expect it to suck up a lot of nutrients once it carpets.
 
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