Fertilizer Tabs

[Loko17]

I have a 3 gallon tank with an aponogeton plant in it and its growing. when it gets bigger I'm going to get some fertilizer tabs. Can anyone recommend a fertilizer tab that i can use, also if there is such a thing can you recommend one that releases Co2 in to the air, if not can you help me figure out how to get Co2 into the tank or if I even need it. thank you.

 

[Themuleous]

Seachem do a good range it root tabs, Dont know of any that release Co2 thou and doubt they would be very effective it they did. As to CO2, the 'need for it can depend on the lighting you've got over the tank. For such a small tank you'll probably not 'need' it but its addition might help the plants, though trying to diffuse it into a 3G might provide difficult. Have a look at the nutrafin CO2 system thats cheap and easy to use.

Sam

 

[Dubby]

With such a small tank, I would suggest you go the DIY route with CO2.

 

[Chris_Wood]

Never heard of any that release CO2!

A DIY CO2 version would be a small coke bottle, some air tube (create hole in bottle lid, push through just a little section of tube and seal with silicone where it enters) ten add c. 5 tbl spoons of sugar, 1 tbl spoon of baking soda and an eigth tbl spoon of yeast, then half fill the bottle with luke warm water and hey presto DIY CO2 (should last c. month)!

I use a Nutrafin Natural CO2 system as they have the bottle and bubble ladder and then just use the above mix for CO2 production (£15 and then that's your lot!)

As for fertiliers, Leaf Zone (APi) and PlantaMin (Tetra) are good liquid foods, and Crypto Tabs (Tetra) are good tablets to bury near the roots!

CW

 

[jayjay]

i was told it's dangerous using co2 in tanks of this size (I was planning on doing it on my 3.5g, also if you can help me out in my topic)

do you know if that's true? that in such a small tank you have little margin for error so it makes it risky.

 

[Themuleous]

I use CO2 on my 4G nano with problems, that said the KH is always between 5 -8 because of the eco-complete so pH crashes are never a worry.

 

[jayjay]

sam would you say i should do it then?

also i need some root tabs, i think my plants will grow well if i get co2 ferts and tabs.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Jayjay,

In your other post you say "Water chemistry - pH 7 , KH don't know,"

If you are going to be adding CO2 and you want to keep an eye on your levels (CO2 & PH) you are going to need to have an idea of your KH and GH , and be aware of the fact that your PH will drop.
The buffering capacity of your tap water will determine by how much.

I wouldn't start adding CO2 until you have those reading available.

Does the lower PH suit your Killifish (I've no experience with them).

 

[jayjay]

killi fish live in what are pracitally puddles of rainwater so pH i can't imagine can be bad to be low?

 

[Themuleous]

Think rain water is naturally around pH 6.8.

I would only ever add a pressurized kit to a small tank, the yeast kits you just dont have enough control over. Yes it'll be expensive for a small tank but the ability to change the amount being added I don't think should be underestimated. Also, I did run a yeast kit on my nano to start with but had the ladder diffuser sticking out of the water, looked stupid!

Sam