Best Value Ferts?

[ian]

what is the lighting?

 

[Carlovel1]

Roma 125 has 2X20W T8 bulbs. So 40 watts in total over a 33 gallon tank =1.2WPG=Low light tank

 

[ian]

what is the stocking going to be like Josh?

if you are lightly stocking, i would still use the TPN+, it never hurts to OD the ferts, just make sure you keep up with the water changes.

 

[Joshwainwright]

I haven't decided yet, I shall be deciding that once I start cycling the tank.

 

[pauld]

Roma 125 has 2X20W T8 bulbs. So 40 watts in total over a 33 gallon tank =1.2WPG=Low light tank

can i point you to ukaps search EI methods .

 

[ian]

Paul, there is the same info on this forum, the poster can look in parc for the ei method.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Right, I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to make my own as I've just worked out that I could potentially make 3 years worth of ferts from just £30. It's risking it a little but I'm up for a challenge.

I'm not going to buy the "ingredients" yet as I would like to wait until I have my tank so I can buy some plants at the same time.

 

[pauld]

Paul, there is the same info on this forum, the poster can look in parc for the ei method.

soz didnt realise it was posted on here just looked after you told me so my advice is have a good read its not as scarey as it 1st sounds if you ignore the chemical names and just look at it as plant food .

 

[JenCliBee]

I totally agree, making your own is easy and a lot cheaper. Personally though i liked to get to grips with ferts first, before making my own.

It's up to you Josh, try and gain a little understanding on what the ferts are doing/do and it will come a lot easier.

Unsure why he would need to know what all the ferts were doing if he was to make up James recipe for TPN mix?, he would dose just like the tropica version anyways. If he was to do the EI method then yes i totally agree with looking to see what each fert does and have a good read as to find the correct way to dose. You probably meant the latter anyways but i was just a little confused by your reply lol.

As it will be my first planted tank I am a bit unsure. To start off, I might just use plant nutrition+

I am guessing the fert will be for your 125L Roma. Since you are going to go for low light plants, then you might as well get the normal TPN rather than TPN+. TPN+ really shines when used in high tech tanks but why not save your self some pennies and get TPN. TPN works fine in low light tanks

How does this work?, low light or high light the plants would still need a source of NPK which TPN doesn't supply.... unless you were doing a walstad tank and even then alot of people that try this still dose to a certain degree, then the whole process is completely different anyways, if the plant mass was very small and the tank quite overstocked then yes it would probably be a feasible option but as ian has mentioned it is always better to have to much than to little.

I think you have the low light and high light mixed up with low tech and high tech which can be completely different things altogether.

what is the stocking going to be like Josh?

if you are lightly stocking, i would still use the TPN+, it never hurts to OD the ferts, just make sure you keep up with the water changes.

Man after my own heart lol, as ive mentioned above, to much is better than not enough

Back to the OP, yes making your own mix is very easy, the only thing you need apart from the powders would be a good accurate to 0.01 pair of scales. Measure out each powder to the recipe supplied and add to 500ml of either tap water or RO water.. really doesn't matter which. Mix and make sure all salts have dissolved and there you are a cheap version of TPN+ that will work just as good

 

[Joshwainwright]

Back to the OP, yes making your own mix is very easy, the only thing you need apart from the powders would be a good accurate to 0.01 pair of scales. Measure out each powder to the recipe supplied and add to 500ml of either tap water or RO water.. really doesn't matter which. Mix and make sure all salts have dissolved and there you are a cheap version of TPN+ that will work just as good

Great! I've just bought these scales http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230581932658&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT from eBay. They seem good enough and they were only £6 so I went for it.

As I have said previously, I'm not going to buy the things required to make my own fertiliser until I have got the tank as I plan to buy some plants at the same time in order to avoid extra delivery charges.

 

[weezawoo]

 

[Joshwainwright]

5-7 Days delivery for the scales.
7-10 Days delivery for the tank.

I'm going to die!

 

[weezawoo]

If u do... I got dibs on the tank haha

 

[Joshwainwright]

Ahah, okay. It's a deal.

 

[roadmaster]

Roma 125 has 2X20W T8 bulbs. So 40 watts in total over a 33 gallon tank =1.2WPG=Low light tank

can i point you to ukaps search EI methods .

Plus One.

Google dry fertilizers for planted aquariums. Way cheaper, and you can buy a year's worth of macro/micro nuntrient's for around twenty dollars U.S.
You would benefit from NPK (Nitrogen, pottasium,Phosphorus) + CSM+B (trace minerals)