Fertilisers

[chr15_8]

what are the best?

i dont want to be dosing up the tank every other day etc (2 times a week max)

so was just wondering whats the best way of doing it and what Fertilisers are best to use?


my tank
lighting - abot 3 wpg
co2 - jbl Pressurised
Substrate - Tropica Plant Substrate

thanks

chris

 

[SuperColey1]

I think most people now say Tropica Pant Nutrition is the best.

Plant Nutrition if you have loads of fish and plants.
Plant Nutrition+ if you have very few fish
andy

 

[chr15_8]

I think most people now say Tropica Pant Nutrition is the best.

Plant Nutrition if you have loads of fish and plants.
Plant Nutrition+ if you have very few fish
andy

well i have 45 neons tetras
(will be) 10-15 cherry shrimp
(will be) 5 ottos ( < will this be enough in 30 gallons of water)

 

[SuperColey1]

I thought I was overloaded with the inch per galon rule at 1.5x but 45 Neons is already over the rule, so I wouldn't ad 5 ottos!!.

 

[chr15_8]

I thought I was overloaded with the inch per galon rule at 1.5x but 45 Neons is already over the rule, so I wouldn't ad 5 ottos!!.

the tank is about 45 gallons without decor (roughly) and without filter

thats just infront of the background (has lots of room around the back)

 

[Captain Retardo]

I use SeaChem, but then again, that is the only fertilizer that i heard is good, I have not heard of Tropica plant nutrition

I don't think the inch rule applies to big tanks, I don't think the inch rule is really good at all even, just use common sense when stocking the tank (size of adult fish, aggresiveness of fish, how large territory, will it have enough area to live peacefully in its territory)

 

[chr15_8]

I use SeaChem, but then again, that is the only fertilizer that i heard is good, I have not heard of Tropica plant nutrition

I don't think the inch rule applies to big tanks, I don't think the inch rule is really good at all even, just use common sense when stocking the tank (size of adult fish, aggresiveness of fish, how large territory, will it have enough area to live peacefully in its territory)

ive heard of it a few times

how often do you have to dose seachem?

stocking like you say they arnt agreesive. sometimes they woll be swimming together and other they will be spread out

 

[Captain Retardo]

Seachem can be dosed either once a week or two times a week (at least for the fert i use). Seachem has a lot of different ferts for different plants and requirements check it out here.

Yea, your tank is not overstocked

 

[chr15_8]

Seachem can be dosed either once a week or two times a week (at least for the fert i use). Seachem has a lot of different ferts for different plants and requirements check it out here.

Yea, your tank is not overstocked

thanks for the link will have a read later

would 5 ottos be ok in there? maybe 6-7 or is that pushing it?

 

[Captain Retardo]

I think the rule is an otto for every 5 gallons, but I'm not completely sure on that...

 

[chr15_8]

I think the rule is an otto for every 5 gallons, but I'm not completely sure on that...

have you been talking us gallons? as ive been onabout uk gallons lol

 

[Captain Retardo]

oh yea, sorry, I am talking US gallons, but UK gallons are bigger, so there is no problem, I think I would still add 1 otto per 5 UK Gallons though, which would turn out to be 8 (er 9, in your sig it says 40 UK gallons and in your post though it says 45) ottos, unless of course the 1 otto per 5 gallon rule is wrong.

 

[plantbrain]

what are the best?

i dont want to be dosing up the tank every other day etc (2 times a week max)

so was just wondering whats the best way of doing it and what Fertilisers are best to use?


my tank
lighting - abot 3 wpg
co2 - jbl Pressurised
Substrate - Tropica Plant Substrate

thanks

chris

The best thing you can do is drop the lighting down, to about 2wpg.
Then you can dose less frequently. You may have issues otherwise.
You cannot just add a lot more instead, that level will drop in the 2-3 days,. plants do better with stable levels.

If you reduce the light, you also reduce the uptake rate.
So the levels stay stable longer. This way you can get away with less frequent dosing and the lower lighting allows for a lot more wiggle room.

Why so many people have so much light eludes me. Then some do not want to do much tending of their tanks, more light just means more work.

It's not "better" nor required for any species of plant. 2w/gal will grow most any plant and most any set up. You also have less issues with CO2 and water changes etc.


KNO3
KH2PO4
Maybe some GH booster
Tropica master grow for the traces.

NO3 is NO3.
So brand does not matter, KNO3 runs about 15$ for 50lbs here.
Enough for you and 10 friends for about 20 years.
You can pay more if you choose for the same stuff diluted in water and brand name stuck on it.

See www.gregwatson.com or Aquaessentials in the UK.
Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[chr15_8]

oh yea, sorry, I am talking US gallons, but UK gallons are bigger, so there is no problem, I think I would still add 1 otto per 5 UK Gallons though, which would turn out to be 8 (er 9, in your sig it says 40 UK gallons and in your post though it says 45) ottos, unless of course the 1 otto per 5 gallon rule is wrong.

about to to recalculate the tank lol

 

[chr15_8]

what are the best?

i dont want to be dosing up the tank every other day etc (2 times a week max)

so was just wondering whats the best way of doing it and what Fertilisers are best to use?


my tank
lighting - abot 3 wpg
co2 - jbl Pressurised
Substrate - Tropica Plant Substrate

thanks

chris

The best thing you can do is drop the lighting down, to about 2wpg.
Then you can dose less frequently. You may have issues otherwise.
You cannot just add a lot more instead, that level will drop in the 2-3 days,. plants do better with stable levels.

If you reduce the light, you also reduce the uptake rate.
So the levels stay stable longer. This way you can get away with less frequent dosing and the lower lighting allows for a lot more wiggle room.

Why so many people have so much light eludes me. Then some do not want to do much tending of their tanks, more light just means more work.

It's not "better" nor required for any species of plant. 2w/gal will grow most any plant and most any set up. You also have less issues with CO2 and water changes etc.


KNO3
KH2PO4
Maybe some GH booster
Tropica master grow for the traces.

NO3 is NO3.
So brand does not matter, KNO3 runs about 15$ for 50lbs here.
Enough for you and 10 friends for about 20 years.
You can pay more if you choose for the same stuff diluted in water and brand name stuck on it.

See www.gregwatson.com or Aquaessentials in the UK.
Regards,
Tom Barr

thanks very much for the input

i can cope with weekly water changes and weekly 'pruning'/clear up

but just dont want to dose every other day
1) i dont get back normaly till about 6ish and its physical work so im shatterd by the end
2)i would prefer to watch/maintain(if needed)

would you still recommend to loss a light? (30w) and leave 60w?

thanks again