I need some help choosing fertilizer!

[webcricket]

My 10 gallon was doing wonderfully before I added in some anacharis last week. The water was maintaining a nice steady 5ppm of nitrate and everything was growing like crazy. I tested yesterday and noticed the nitrates seemed lower, and then today they are definitely reading 0ppm on my test kit (AP kit). The plants look okay - they just stopped growing like weeds and on my lloydiella in particular I noticed some yellowing/browning on the lower leaves. Also, there are a few strands of thread algae popping up which I've been removing with tweezers.

Seems it's time for fertilizers. Does Seachem Nitrogen, Phosphates, Potassium, and Flourish seem okay? I'm not going to encourage that thread algae with one of them, am I?

 

[phanmc]

Seems it's time for fertilizers. Does Seachem Nitrogen, Phosphates, Potassium, and Flourish seem okay? I'm not going to encourage that thread algae with one of them, am I?

That's all you need from Seachem and is what I've used in the past with good results. You'll only promote algae with them is you put in an excessive amount, otherwise the promotion of plant growth from them will prevent algae.

Almost forgot about CO2. If you're not injecting CO2, you may want to grab a bottle of Flourish Excel as well.

 

[webcricket]

I thought about Excel also, but I've read it can melt crypts and that's my centerpiece plant. If the ferts don't do the trick I'll try a DIY CO2 setup.

 

[djlen]

Excel has had zero negative affects on my Crypts. and trust me, I've got a ton of them. Whether you need the Excel at this time depends somewhat on the amount of light you're supplying.
DIY CO2 is also an option. Obviously more work and unless you have certain 'tender' plants, not necessarily a better one than Excel.
My thought is that you are now using more nutrients than you're supplying and the 4 Seachem nutrients that you mention would be the way to go, but I would start at 1/4 - 1/2 recommended dosage and go from there after observing plant growth and color.

Len

 

[plah831]

Excel has melted my anachris, especially the older leaves at the bottom. I remember RTR offering this warning on another forum, as well. No problem, I just moved all my anachris to another tank that is not dosed with carbon and it still grows just fine

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

Guy's this is a 10 gallon. You don't need any fertilizers. Just do 50% water changes and you will be fine. Your tap water will supply the plants what they need. If you must dose then stay away from multiple supplements in a 10g and use an all in one from Kent or LEAFZONE by AP. Use the seachem products on bigger systems.
Here are some pics without CO2 and with CO2 lots of light and SEACHEM.

 

[webcricket]

Water changes aren't going to add the nitrates the plants need. At least not my tap water. :huh: I always do weekly 40%ish changes anyway.


Thanks for the help! I ordered the Seachem products tonight. I do like the option of being able to adjust those macro elements to suit the tank rather than relying on an all-in-one. I'll start on 1/4 doses when they get here. My thought is the same - that the plants are now using more nutrients than they are being supplied. They were superb for a month until I added the anacharis, which I've now read is a real nutrient hog.

 

[djlen]

Sounds like a good plan. The biggest nutrient user in the 10 is the anacharis. Most of the others don't use that much and you don't want to over dose.

Let us know how it works out for you.

Len

 

[Goatman]

Excel doesn't melt crypts, changing ANYTHING with the chemistry of a tank melts crypts. It is a mechanism they employ to adjust with changing seasons. Increase light, meltdown... Decrease CO2, meltdown... Do whatever you like with your tank, just once you find what you like, stick with it and your crypts will be just fine.