Aquaessentials Has Confused Me

[pablothebetta]

Not sure if links like the ones on this page are allowed, please do notify me if they are not.

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/ae-design-aqua-nourish-combo-250ml-p-3969.html

I was thinking of buying this combo, but on the page it says that if the tank is highly lit or carbon is used, then the '+' version of AE Aqua Nourish should be used. Why use the '+' version (which can be found here: http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/ae-design-aqua-nourish-250ml-p-3950.html) with carbon and not the 'regular version' (which can be found here: http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/ae-design-aqua-nourish-250ml-p-3947.html)?

Sorry, just a little confused here. It's my first time using such ferts and liquid carbon so I am a little perplexed. Also, if they want you to use the '+' version with carbon, why do they sell the 'regular' version with the carbon as a combo deal?

Sorry if the answer is quite clear

 

[SO19Firearms]

If you use carbon you'll be wanting to add Nitrate and Phosphate - nourish+ has this, nourish doesn't.

 

[pablothebetta]

Thanks for the help there Why is it that you need them with carbon? Won't my fish produce the nitrates/phosphate anyway?

 

[SO19Firearms]

Thanks for the help there Why is it that you need them with carbon? Won't my fish produce the nitrates/phosphate anyway?

Fish only produce Nitrate (via the nitrogen cycle), phosphate may or may not come from the food you feed - But essentially in a high tech tank you'll struggle to meet the needs of the plants, resulting in sick plants and algae. You'll also want to keep on top of your water changes due to the extra organics the plants will be releasing with the increased growth

 

[pablothebetta]

Thanks for the help there Why is it that you need them with carbon? Won't my fish produce the nitrates/phosphate anyway?

Fish only produce Nitrate (via the nitrogen cycle), phosphate may or may not come from the food you feed - But essentially in a high tech tank you'll struggle to meet the needs of the plants, resulting in sick plants and algae. You'll also want to keep on top of your water changes due to the extra organics the plants will be releasing with the increased growth

I see, thanks. It says that the '+' version should be used with the 'regular' version which contains trace ferts, whereas the '+' version only contains macro nutrients. Would that suggest both are needed? Are there any other ferts out there which supply both in one fertilizer?

Thankyou very much

 

[SO19Firearms]

I did not know that - Yes you would need both. Tropica plant nutrition+ and TNC Complete are all in one ferts. Another option would be to make your own complete fertiliser using a recipe from James' planted tank

 

[pablothebetta]

I did not know that - Yes you would need both. Tropica plant nutrition+ and TNC Complete are all in one ferts. Another option would be to make your own complete fertiliser using a recipe from James' planted tank

I'll look into the TPN or TNC then if they would be better I might consider making my own ferts sometime, though my tank is pretty small atm so I'm not sure there'd be much point in making so much

Thanks for clearing my issue

 

[moochy13]

ive just brought some tnc complete, just waiting for it to turn up. it seems a decent price, a 250 ml bottle should last me nearly half a year at the suggested dose in my tank. cost 7 or 8 quid i think off ebay.

 

[pablothebetta]

ive just brought some tnc complete, just waiting for it to turn up. it seems a decent price, a 250 ml bottle should last me nearly half a year at the suggested dose in my tank. cost 7 or 8 quid i think off ebay.

Might I ask if you are using CO2? If its the tank in your signature it must be good stuff

 

[moochy13]

haha long story..... short version is

the tank in my sig, that happened without any ferts or co2 - that was all natural growth, nothing added. then i split the swords because they overtook the tank, and i pretty much killed them . since then, nothing has grown in my tank, everything keeps dying instantly. the ferts ive just brought are the first ones i will have used, and im debating on whether to use liquid carbon or not.

the only thing i changed was the filter. and reading up on what the ferts add, nitrate, putting a bigger filter on the tank could have reduced my nitrate levels below what is needed to grow plants without any added extra help. its the only theory ive got, i havnt changed anything else in the tank

speaking my one of my lfs owners yesterday, hes got a big planted tank that he doesnt add anything to, and said its going mental. he had to feed it for about 6 months to begin with, but once the plants had taken, he now has to trim most of it once a week, and stopped feeding them. im hoping that will be my experience. i will probably not try carbon until i find out if the ferts are doing enough or not.

 

[pablothebetta]

Ah, Sorry to hear that best of luck with the ferts though

Never heard of such a story like that of the LFS person though - I wonder how they did it? Wish that was my tank, my echinodoras and vallis just don't seem to be doing so well at all

 

[moochy13]

haha i said to him after he finished explaining "i can only dream" he shew me a quick pic, moss has carpeted the whole back of the tank, and is even creeping up across the lid where water is condensating on it and he said like my swords, they keep getting so big they block out the light, so hes cutting numerous leaves off them all the time.

 

[pablothebetta]

Wow...