Ferts

[wally6346]

I'm currently changing alot of my tank to suit it better to the plants I wish to grow, I've modified my lighting, ordered the substrate Eco-Complete and changed the filter to allow less CO2 to be wasted from the two Nutrafin kits I use.

I have just over 2WPG and wondered what ferts or additional 'food' for the plants I need to use, I've been very confused about what to add and use!! I plan to have 100% of the substrate planted.

 

[SuperColey1]

With over 2WPG you will probably needto look into EI and pressurised.

What size tank do you have? If its 30G or above I would say definately pressurised CO2. I tried the Nutrafin route (3 cannisters on a 30G) and it works great but the minute it doesn't.....Boom.....you have algae within days it takes over

For EI you would need:

KN03 (Potassium nitrate)
KH2PO4 (Potassium Phosphate)
K2SO4 (Potassium Sulphate)

And also a source of trace i.e. one of the better ferts like Tropica Plant Nutrition or Seachem Flourish or the dry powder.

AquaEssentials sell all these powders and then you can follow the Pinned EI giude to mix up your solutions and work out your dosing.

A lot of people won't need Potassium Sulphate but I add it anyway as a little more Potassium can't hurt.

Andy

 

[wally6346]

With over 2WPG you will probably needto look into EI and pressurised.

What size tank do you have? If its 30G or above I would say definately pressurised CO2. I tried the Nutrafin route (3 cannisters on a 30G) and it works great but the minute it doesn't.....Boom.....you have algae within days it takes over

For EI you would need:

KN03 (Potassium nitrate)
KH2PO4 (Potassium Phosphate)
K2SO4 (Potassium Sulphate)

And also a source of trace i.e. one of the better ferts like Tropica Plant Nutrition or Seachem Flourish or the dry powder.

AquaEssentials sell all these powders and then you can follow the Pinned EI giude to mix up your solutions and work out your dosing.

A lot of people won't need Potassium Sulphate but I add it anyway as a little more Potassium can't hurt.

Andy

I'm running two Nutrafin Kits on one bubble every 3 seconds on each, and the tank is a 60l so about 13 gallons i.e. small!!! Whats the alternative to EI? I'm fairly new to this so need some teaching!! I know its Estimate Index and I get the general jist but is there a cheaper method?!
Thanks Andy

 

[Underwurlde]

Cheaper....

Well, you've gone to the expense and trouble of using CO2. The ferts, in the long run will (on a 60L) cost about, hmmm, 30 to 40 quid for 6 months worth (guess what size my tank is).

Once set up, EI is IMHO not expensive. It is expensive to set up & you've done this already! i.e. lights, CO2, plants. From a lazy gits point of view (moi), even the 5 mins per day plus >50% water changes I also considered 'expenisve' time-wise!

My biggest bug bear was these water changes and also trying to keep the sodding CO2 to a decent level AND stable - I see you've learnt that lesson and have got TWO kits.

So, now you got thus far, go with EI. Now you've done the ground work & the learning, go for it! However, I have to ask therefore, 'what do you want? What are you trying to achieve woth your tank / plants?'.

You don't HAVE to use high lighting / CO2 / dosing to get a good planted tank. EI is for those CO2 junkies out there. I could be biased here because I'm skint and couldn't afford 'proper' CO2. Then I learnt of techniques where CO2 is not necessary....

Andy