Tetra FloraPride
- Thread starter FtwayneFish
- Start date
Go to www.rexgrigg.com and read about fertilizers, there you can learn which ferts are important.
Not many people test for ferts because the equipment needed to do so is very expensive. Instead, the current method is the estimative index method. In short, the the idea is that you add a little bit of ferts each day, so that by the time you do a water change, you are up to the level you need. This way you never overdose. You can read about it:
Here: http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/index.htm under "dosing methods"--->estimative index
and here: http://www.barrreport.com/estimative-index/
Not many people test for ferts because the equipment needed to do so is very expensive. Instead, the current method is the estimative index method. In short, the the idea is that you add a little bit of ferts each day, so that by the time you do a water change, you are up to the level you need. This way you never overdose. You can read about it:
Here: http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/index.htm under "dosing methods"--->estimative index
and here: http://www.barrreport.com/estimative-index/
Yes, I've been using Florapride for a few months now. It mostly just adds a small amount of potassium, so I've just replaced it with Seachem Flourish Potassium. I also plan to start dosing trace minerals occasionally. The fish food takes care of the phosphate needs in my moderately-planted tank (trying for heavily-planted in time).
My opinion is that it seems to give plant growth a slight boost after running the tank with no added nutrients outside of the fish food and iron in the laterite layer of the inert gravel substrate. But I only dose Excel a few times a week, run moderate light, and intend to maintain relatively low-tech tanks. If you're wanting fast, lush growth, you'll want to listen to the others and go high-tech.
All in all, this product appears to be better than nothing but I don't plan on purchasing it again in the future. I'll try my luck with the seachem line.
My opinion is that it seems to give plant growth a slight boost after running the tank with no added nutrients outside of the fish food and iron in the laterite layer of the inert gravel substrate. But I only dose Excel a few times a week, run moderate light, and intend to maintain relatively low-tech tanks. If you're wanting fast, lush growth, you'll want to listen to the others and go high-tech.
All in all, this product appears to be better than nothing but I don't plan on purchasing it again in the future. I'll try my luck with the seachem line.
Seachem stuff is easy to use, but you pay for the ease. If you want to save a lot of money, purchase some dry ferts and either dose those directly or make up your own solutions.
I made up two solutions, one is KNO3 and KH2PO4, and I've got it so I add one capful(~5mL) every other day. My other solution is Plantex CSM+B, which I have made up so I had one capful every other day. I drop in 1/2t of K2SO4 along with the first solution, and do a 50% weekly water change. It's the standard EI method, but I just wanted to illustrate how simple it is.
Rex Grigg's got a package, $20 shipped which gives you all the dry ferts you need. On his website he even talks about how to use them(including a "recipe" for making solutions). This package would last at least....at least, a year. My solutions(assuming no spillage) will last me 100 doses. 3 doses a week, that's 30 weeks, and I didn't even put a dent in the bulk dry ferts.
I made up two solutions, one is KNO3 and KH2PO4, and I've got it so I add one capful(~5mL) every other day. My other solution is Plantex CSM+B, which I have made up so I had one capful every other day. I drop in 1/2t of K2SO4 along with the first solution, and do a 50% weekly water change. It's the standard EI method, but I just wanted to illustrate how simple it is.
Rex Grigg's got a package, $20 shipped which gives you all the dry ferts you need. On his website he even talks about how to use them(including a "recipe" for making solutions). This package would last at least....at least, a year. My solutions(assuming no spillage) will last me 100 doses. 3 doses a week, that's 30 weeks, and I didn't even put a dent in the bulk dry ferts.
Rex Grigg said:
again jeffrey is the MAN. best help on here, i think.
and i read that already from your other helpful comments pointing me in rex griggs direction. i might do the dry ferts if i really get into it. a couple diff brands of liq ferts is all im trying now. i dont have the space to have all the super lush plants i want. 55g is a hex. so not alot there to grow. and 10g is only 10w and the 5g is my only real grow tank right now. with DIY co2 and 5.2 wpg and again the mild liq ferts.
and i read that already from your other helpful comments pointing me in rex griggs direction. i might do the dry ferts if i really get into it. a couple diff brands of liq ferts is all im trying now. i dont have the space to have all the super lush plants i want. 55g is a hex. so not alot there to grow. and 10g is only 10w and the 5g is my only real grow tank right now. with DIY co2 and 5.2 wpg and again the mild liq ferts.
