Ferts n' Lighting; Tough decision

[Dwarf Puffers]

Hey, just have a few questions...

Is 108 watts good on a 75g low(ish) light planted tank? Going to be crypt, anubias, "wort" plants, some ludwiga, java moss, dwarf sag, and some other low lighters.

Also, there was this great guy I met when I bought my new lighting and python (OMG YES!!), and he knew a LOT about fish. He'd be one of those "Anwser all your plant & SW questions" sort of guys. He suggested 3-4 (ideally 4) dry fert machines rated for 25g. My plants have been growing good without it, so I'm not too worried. I do have some questions though:

I read that after someone stopped dosing ferts, their fish were a lot healthier. If it's going to affect my fish in any possible negative way, there isn't a chance I'll get it. Can anyone verify?

Also, the fert "machines" were 35$ each. Ergh. He suggested Big Al's online. Any DIY fert-dosers around? Thanks.

-DP

 

[fgump]

Any DIY fert-dosers around?

Sure, your hands. At least that's how I've been doing it. My tanks only been planted for about a month now though. But I've only added ferts by hand so far.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Sure, your hands. At least that's how I've been doing it. My tanks only been planted for about a month now though. But I've only added ferts by hand so far.

How would you do that? Lol, I have no clue how to fert any kind of plant. My java fern and mystery plant, java moss and duckweed (gone now) and other kind of surface plant have been perfect, my crypt, dwarf sag and moss balls haven't grown that much. My other plants haven't grown since I got them, it'll be a week tomorrow, and they've only had real light for less than a day. I'll post a shot in a sec. And yes, the red ludwiga and moneywort-like plants will be moved to the back (reffering to pic).

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Whoever told you plant ferts are bad for fish was wrong.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Pics are in this order: Full shot, mid shot, right shot, left shot.

Breeder net is holding a 1/2" female cherry & a 4/10" male cherry with some java moss in it, setting them up a little house at the moment.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Whoever told you plant ferts are bad for fish was wrong.

Might have been a CO2 leakage, I can't remember, it was a while ago.

Btw, yes, some of the white clouds, neons, and a cory are prego in pic #4 if you were wondering.

 

[loaches r cool]

What the heck is a fert machine? Probably 90%+ of everyone doses by hand. Either with dry ferts or liquid, use your measuring device of preference and dump in. In my case, I dose via the EI method dry with a teaspoon set.

 

[fgump]

If he was talking about 'CO2 leakage' and 'machines', he was probably taking about pressurized CO2. Which I suppose could be referred to as a 'machine'.

I also haven't ever heard of a fert machine. But I haven't been doing this long, so I supposed they could exist. But if they do exist, they aren't that popular or well known.

 

[chinnp]

I've never heard of a "fert machine" but I'm hardly what anyone would call an expert. I use pill boxes for my ferts. I sit down once a month and fill them up appropriately with a teaspoon set.

 

[loaches r cool]

Some do use 'auto dosers', which typicaly consist of pricey perestaltic pumps and run a few hundred for a dual doser with control. Or you can DIY them for cheaper (a lot cheaper if you use an aqualifter instead of perastaltic), but I just thought the term fert machine sounded funny lol.