Recommend some fertilizer?

[Burto]

I don't keep serious aquascaped planted tanks, just tanks with lots of fairly common, easy to grow plants in them. I've been using API Leafzone fertilizer for maybe 6 months now, pretty happy with the results, but I might try Seachem Flourish and maybe Flourish Excel next time.

I'm wondering which basic fertilizers you've had the best results with or what you can recommend.
In particular by way of root tabs. I'm just using gravel and sand, no special plant substrates, and I'd like to get the most out of my cryptocorynes and echinodorus. The options I have available are API, Seachem and Sera root tabs, and I really don't know what I'm looking at in comparing them. If you can recommend one over the other or tell me what their relative advantages or disadvantages are that'd be great. API seems to be the cheapest.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sab_Fan]

I generally use Seachem product because I trust them the most . . . the API products may work well too, but I have always had good results form Seachem

 

[pjsmetana]

I've used all sorts of ferts. API Leafzone is great. Its cheap. Don't waste your money, as it just don't get any better than this. Use it weekly after your water changes. You can root tab once along with this stuff. I do not recommend root tabbing any more than once... as too much will burn the roots, thus resulting in a dead plant.

If your not seeing positive results from the fert your already using, then you've forgotten to take the carbon bag out of your filter.

 

[FLESHY]

I generally use Seachem product because I trust them the most . . . the API products may work well too, but I have always had good results form Seachem

+1...I have mixed feelings about api and have had great success with all of seachem's plant line. Great stuff in my opinion.

That being said, if you are not already using seachem's excel you should be. I dont know why there isnt a law for beginner plant keepers to HAVE to buy this stuff. Its great.

Root tabs only need to be used every 3-4 months, so the increased cost really shouldnt be a deal. Just stick them in, and I would give them a little space from the actual rootball as to not harm it as was mentioned in the previous post. Two inches away should work fine. Good luck

 

[jcardona1]

Excel is liquid carbon, a co2 replacement. the seachem line is ok, but youre paying for 75% water in a bottle. it's the same as dry dosing using bulk fertilizers. it's not as easy as using the seachem stuff, but its soooo much cheaper

 

[Burto]

Thank you all for your replies.

If your not seeing positive results from the fert your already using, then you've forgotten to take the carbon bag out of your filter.

Lol no carbon in my filters. I've definitely got results from API, it's the difference between slow sickly yellow growth and rapid thick green growth.

Seachem Flourish is prohibitively expensive in stores around here, but I noticed the recommended dosage is lower than API Leafzone, which is what made me interested in trying it.

Thanks for the advice jcardona, I was reading Rex Grigg's breakdown of the expense of fertilizing with liquid vs dry that you linked to in another thread, pretty damn conclusive. But between all my tanks, I'm probably only using 20-30ml of API per week. If I switch to Seachem I'll probably be using even less, so at this point in time it may not be worth the effort.

I think I'll stick with the plan of trying Flourish and Flourish Excel, might get a 10-pack each of API and Seachem root tabs, and look into dry dosing at a later date.

 

[FLESHY]

Griggs ships stuff two weeks after he gets paid. We will see long term if his products give results, but his customer service leaves something to be desired.

jcardona...is there a way to make your own excel? That would be great, please explain.

Lastly I wouldnt waste your time on flourish if you have a good substrate in your tank, just get the excel.

 

[jcardona1]

Griggs ships stuff two weeks after he gets paid. We will see long term if his products give results, but his customer service leaves something to be desired.

jcardona...is there a way to make your own excel? That would be great, please explain.

Lastly I wouldnt waste your time on flourish if you have a good substrate in your tank, just get the excel.

yeah rex grigg is slow on replies/orders. like he says, he does this as a side hobby, to benefit other people in the hobby. its not his life or his business and has a fulltime job, hence the delays. there has been talks about him shutting down the website and no longer selling equipment.

for dry ferts, i would get them from www.greenleafaquariums.com

DIY excel i dont think its possible lol, would be nice though! i was talking about the other ferts

 

[m1ste2tea]

+1...I have mixed feelings about api and have had great success with all of seachem's plant line. Great stuff in my opinion.

That being said, if you are not already using seachem's excel you should be. I dont know why there isnt a law for beginner plant keepers to HAVE to buy this stuff. Its great.

Root tabs only need to be used every 3-4 months, so the increased cost really shouldnt be a deal. Just stick them in, and I would give them a little space from the actual rootball as to not harm it as was mentioned in the previous post. Two inches away should work fine. Good luck

I stand by seachem flourish excel and their root tabs. with this combo you do not need other liquid ferts in most scenarios.

 

[FLESHY]

DIY excel i dont think its possible lol, would be nice though! i was talking about the other ferts

Didnt know that...sorry rex wherever you are.

Dont do that to me again J...you got me all excited.

I stand by seachem flourish excel and their root tabs. with this combo you do not need other liquid ferts in most scenarios.

+1...good stuff. Just root tabbed my crypto colony...gunna give her a trim in a week or two and watch her bush up.