Fertilizer confusion

[zin]

Im really confused on what should be dosed into a planted tank, eventually i plan to use a homemade solution, but atm only have a 10gallon planted so buying fertilizers is easier and not really expensive. But what im wondering is what is needed, atm im using flourish and flourish excel, with a diy co2 reactor. 2.2 wpg

when i look at what fertilizers are available i get confused

flourish, flourish trace, flourish iron, flourish nitrogen, flourish potassium, flourish phosphorous, tabs?

 

[djlen]

Your plants will benefit from the addition of K=potassium, P=phosphate, N=nitrates(Flourish nitrogen) along with the Traces you already supply with the Flourish. Flourish is a fairly complete Trace product, and Flourish Trace(IMO) is a huge waste of money.
You don't need to dose Excel if you are injecting CO2. And it could be, at least uncomfortable and at most, dangerous or deadly for your fish to have too much acid in their environment.

'tabs' may or may not be of use depending on the types of plants you have(root feeders?) and the type of substrate you have.
In my experience, most plants will do well in a well balanced, properly fertilized tank without plant tabs but I use Flourite which is an Iron rich substrate. Plant tabs can also cause algae issues if you disturb them before they expire themselves, when moving plants around.

Len

 

[zin]

with flourite are the tabs not needed?

 

[djlen]

IMO, root tabs are not needed when the environment of the tank is maintained and balanced.
Flourite is an Iron rich substrate which makes using root tabs even less necessary. Some 'root feeders' will benefit from the use of root tabs, but my own personal belief is that the possible negatives out weight the positives when using them.

Len