liquid fertilizer - which do you like best?

[phaedraeos]

right now i have leaf zone from api. i don't have any substrate besides gravel in my tanks, although i do have a lot of fish

current known plants (i'm really new at this) are hornwort, java fern, java moss, anubias, mondo grass, red wendth (Cryptocoryne wendtii), frill plant, amazon swords. I have really low light, and some natural sunlight on some of them. The java fern is tied with cotton string to driftwood so it can root, and the java moss is also tied to a separate piece of driftwood.

i guess i'm looking for any helpful tips/ideas as well as a good liquid fert. i read a few things about substrate tabs, but i'm not sure what those are or where to get them.

thanks!

 

[WyldFya]

Liquid ferts are for the most part expensive. Dry ferts are much more cost effective, and allow for better control. Greg Watson's ferts are my personal recommendation. Root tabs will be a very good idea for your amazon swords. They are a simple fertilizer that are for plants that are root feeders predominantly. With the plants you have, the fertilizer you use is less important than keeping an eye on specific parameters such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), and to keep an eye on the plants themselves. The plants will be the best indicator. It takes several days before they will show a deficiency. So, just because they are looking good, doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't deficient. If you start having algae/cyanobacteria problems you are over dosing the ferts.

Use the search function, there are a few links to plant root tabs for aquariums.

 

[seighten]

my "two cents"....

get a bit more light..(power compacts work great..!), use flourish excel as directed ( a $15 dollar bottle once a month/month and a half depending on tank size has got to be cheaper than a co2 tank refill and easier in the long run..) and do yer regular water changes... works for me!!

by the way, i measure NOTHING and only have to cull excess plant growth.. no dead plants or fish!!

in the end, whatever works for you, more power to ya!!

 

[WyldFya]

my "two cents"....

get a bit more light..(power compacts work great..!), use flourish excel as directed ( a $15 dollar bottle once a month/month and a half depending on tank size has got to be cheaper than a co2 tank refill and easier in the long run..) and do yer regular water changes... works for me!!

by the way, i measure NOTHING and only have to cull excess plant growth.. no dead plants or fish!!

in the end, whatever works for you, more power to ya!!

Approximate measurements of ferts doesn't matter, but it is the actual nutrients in the water that matter. If you continue to dose a little more then you should, and have certain nutrients in your water already, then you can cause extreme stress to the fish. Nitrate is the most common to have this problem with. Measurement of ferts going in is less important than the actual levels in the tank.

 

[lemcc]

( a $15 dollar bottle once a month/month and a half depending on tank size has got to be cheaper than a co2 tank refill and easier in the long run..)

Excels not a bad product
But the cost benefit of pressurized CO2 is a no brainier
(If you’re in it for the long haul)
Setup $100-150 refill $1 per pound
I have a 20lb tank which will run my 240 for 6 months @ 20ppm
control and cost

Dry ferts are much more cost effective, and allow for better control. Greg Watson's ferts are my personal recommendation.

 

[WyldFya]

I agree that excel is a good product, however unless you have a small tank, it can cost a small fortune to use for more than a year.

 

[mgamer20o0]

i have used flourish and think its a good liquid fert but dry ferts are way cheaper. another vote for Greg Watson's ferts.