I read in a recipe for Root tabs that you can put Epsom Salt in them for Magnesium? Would it be wise to just add Epsom Salt (disolved) directly into the aquarium for the plants? Would it affect the livestock in the tank?
Epsom Salts in the planted aquarium
- Thread starter jamesstill84
- Start date
I use epsom salt for magnesium in my planted tanks. I actually mix it with my macros and make a 1000ml just that lasts me all week. It's a discus tank and the fish have no sensitivity issues. What kind of livestock do you have?
I keep Pristellas, Gourami, Betta, Cory, Otos, Raphael Cat, Bumblebee Cat, Hillstream Loach, Brigs, Ghost Shrimp, Neon Tetras, 1 Guppy, 2 Red Eye's.
Are you using other fertilizers? Just curious why you would just add epsom and not the rest of the macros unless you are blessed with great tap water. That's always nice!
I'm currently using Seachem Flourish Excel and happened to have the Epsom at the house. I read that recipe and found the salt, then started wondering if it would have any real benefit to the plants. I don't have many plants yet though. A couple of Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis, I can't remember what this is:
Well, it probably wouldn't hurt but then again it may not really be necessary. From what I am reading of your situation, you have realtively slow growing plants other than the anacharis. If the plants are healthy and showing growth to your liking, I wouldn't tinker too much. Typically high lighting and high growth plants lead to CO2 injection and a broad range of fertilizers including the epsom salt. Do you have a lot of light? The faster your plants grow, the more these nutrients need to be replaced. If your lighting is aruond 2 to 3 watts per gallons and growth is not off the charts, then you are likely dosing the macro nutrients through water changes. The excel is providing the carbon requirement. I guess to really answer you orginal post, it won't hurt your livestock if dosed correctly.
I think I will hold off on that then. Doesn't seem necessary, so why fix something that's not broken. My lighting is stock that came with the aquarium, but I plan on upgrading the lighting to at least 2 watts per gallon.
