Shoddy planted attempt
- Thread starter Viettxboii
- Start date
Hello, yes the the FLOURISH: Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium will cover all the nutrient dosing needs. It has: N, P2O5, K2O, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cl, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Na, & Zn. IMO it is the best and most financially viable way for dosing. Excel can replace the the CO2 completely for you and will be safer for that size tank as well....don't dose toooo much Excel though; but gen. MUCH safer than CO2. I also use Seachem's Flourish Tabs for the roots; some plants take more nutrients through leaves and some through the roots...I have hence found these, or a good non-inert substrate to help quite a bit. The tabs may not be necessary if you want to save $, just a thought...plus my tank is larger (more plants, more nutrients) and I have a lot of sensitive fish so i do frequent water changes; my theory is that I remove a lot of the nutrients from the water but the tabs help to replenish without having to go nuts with liquid dosing to make it up. I also have to use RO water because of my fish types and tap water issues where I live, so I know i'm not putting anything back in that I take out with the water.
artdale, I think you did an excellent job of explaining everything. I have heard so many people explain the "limiting factor" theory and it still made no sense to me...probably why it took me forever to actually get it...not too tricky if explained simply and well. It seems like people make it way too elaborate when explaining a lot of the time and it just gets plain confusing. So :thm
n that!! What are your thoughts on the tabs??
--Tim
artdale, I think you did an excellent job of explaining everything. I have heard so many people explain the "limiting factor" theory and it still made no sense to me...probably why it took me forever to actually get it...not too tricky if explained simply and well. It seems like people make it way too elaborate when explaining a lot of the time and it just gets plain confusing. So :thm
n that!! What are your thoughts on the tabs?? --Tim
Viettx, I'm really undecided. Flourish is one of the best fertilizers I know but I fear it contains not enough potassium to solve your present yellow leaves problem.
So likely you will need some more potassium at least for a while, may be you will need to add potassium regularly.
So, according to me, you may:
Buy flourish and add potassium buying salts
Buy fluorish and add potassium buying seachem potassium (expensive)
Buy another (cheaper) fertilizer a little more rich in potassium (like tetra)
As you don't have difficult plants may be other fertilizers are good enough.
Your question about fauna is really interesting. Your tank is very little so don't add fishes. Shrimps might be a good solution. Try asking the forum about the compatibility of shrimps with the fishes (and snails) you already have.
Madreefer, I'm sure my simple writing is due to my bad knowledge of English, but thank you anyway.
Tabs are useful if you have plants like cryptocoryne or echinodorus or other "rooted" plants.
Nevertheless, a lot of plants use aerial roots or take nutrition directly from elements dissolved into the water so these don't need tabs.
Furthermore, if you have a good soil, this ensures a good water circulation and even rooted plants may be "reached" by minerals dissolved into the water.
I, for myself, use tabs, but I have a big and heavily planted aquarium.
So likely you will need some more potassium at least for a while, may be you will need to add potassium regularly.
So, according to me, you may:
Buy flourish and add potassium buying salts
Buy fluorish and add potassium buying seachem potassium (expensive)
Buy another (cheaper) fertilizer a little more rich in potassium (like tetra)
As you don't have difficult plants may be other fertilizers are good enough.
Your question about fauna is really interesting. Your tank is very little so don't add fishes. Shrimps might be a good solution. Try asking the forum about the compatibility of shrimps with the fishes (and snails) you already have.
Madreefer, I'm sure my simple writing is due to my bad knowledge of English, but thank you anyway.
Tabs are useful if you have plants like cryptocoryne or echinodorus or other "rooted" plants.
Nevertheless, a lot of plants use aerial roots or take nutrition directly from elements dissolved into the water so these don't need tabs.
Furthermore, if you have a good soil, this ensures a good water circulation and even rooted plants may be "reached" by minerals dissolved into the water.
I, for myself, use tabs, but I have a big and heavily planted aquarium.
I wantted Cherry shrimp but my betta made a snack from that. Tonight i may do a little more research on some fertilizers and find a cheaper one that i can easily obtain tmr that has potassium.
Also I have a small syringe for dosing excel, and most peopel with 2.5g's dose 0.25ml i believe.
Due to the driftwood taking up most the substrate space, i cannot plant the hygro, and i have to leave it floating.
Also very good explanations.
My hygrophilas i'm not sure if they are huge nutrient suckers however, and the fish i have are quite hardy.
I only have a $15 budget and excel (250ml) will kill most of it
Also I have a small syringe for dosing excel, and most peopel with 2.5g's dose 0.25ml i believe.
Due to the driftwood taking up most the substrate space, i cannot plant the hygro, and i have to leave it floating.
Also very good explanations.
My hygrophilas i'm not sure if they are huge nutrient suckers however, and the fish i have are quite hardy.
I only have a $15 budget and excel (250ml) will kill most of it
