API Leaf Zone upgrade?

Lillyan

Lillyan

AC Members
Jan 26, 2010
1,348
0
0
Culpeper, VA
I have been using API Leaf Zone solely with great success in all my tanks for years. But I was wondering if there is another product that is more cost effective? I heard tablets might be.

I will not use CO2 and the such, btw.
 
API leaf zone has only Fe and K while PPMD has N and K as well as the other essential micros. Not to mention it will probably last you over a year and you are not paying for a brand name and water...so it's way cheaper overall while essentially dosing the same things. The idea behind PPMD, I believe, was to limit P (because of algae) but still dose everything else.
 
That's like asking, "How much better is Osmocote than Miracle Gro?" - they are too different to really compare. I am only saying that from looking at the ingredients, I have never used PMDD, I just know it is popular and effective, if a bit more fussy than just liquid dosing. Here are the ingredients side by side so you (and anyone else reading) can see the difference:

Leaf Zone
Soluble potash (K20) 3.00%, Iron (Fe) 0.10%, Chelated Iron (Fe) 0.10%. Derived from: Potassium sulfate and iron EDTA.

PMDD is composed of equal parts of potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, CSM, magnesium sulfate. CSM is composed of 1.50% total magnesium, .10% copper, 7.00% iron, 2.00% manganese, 0.06% molybdenum, 0.40% zinc.
 
It is true in terrestrial plants - pre-mixed liquid doses of fertilizers are a waste of money, very high markup on these items. If you are looking to save money, dry ferts are the way. Even root tabs would be cheaper, but again look away from buying name brand ferts if your budget is tight.
 
You may be just fine ordering a dry CSM+B mix from aquariumfertilizers.com(or similar website). I have an invert tank where I dose CSM+B maybe once every few months and things are growing just fine. I also have set up a tank for a friend where he is dosing CSM+B 2x a week and he has a royal jungle(40gal breeder with T5HO). I guess, basically what I am trying to say is low-tech = low dosing and is quite affordable when using dry fertilizers.
 
It could also be possible that you do not need to add anything different at all...technically.

If you're having success with just the API product then you may want to continue specifically dosing Fe and K, both can be done with dry ferts.

For K you'll want potassium sulfate (K2SO4) and for Fe you should be able to get chelated iron. Same stuff, but cheaper.
 
I just want an upgrade so it lasts longer. I have several tanks I dose and the one big bottle of Leaf Zone lasts a month if I don't have to do unexpected water changes. They also seemed to stop selling the big bottle in all 4 Petco near me and both Petsmarts near me, I don't know what the heck is going on, but the tiny bottle is too $$ for me to bother with. I had a large tank with a ton of plants and a few random Livebearers and I want my plants in my other tanks to turn into a jungle like that one.

I guess so far I will be going with http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/i...Edit=9&Returnitemname;=&ReturnShowItemStart;= until I can go over others and pick the one with the most goodness and will last the longest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom