Flourish Or Flourish Excel?

[Winterlily]

Okay - so back to live plants for me. Had 'em, couldn't keep 'em alive, went back to silk. But in all my tanks, the male betta's fins are getting ripped up by the stupid silk plants, so back to live we went. All right, so, ferts. What's best? Flourish? Or Flourish Excel? Or are you supposed to use them together? I have not a clue. I read a lot about TPN on here, but I cannot find that anywhere (I'm in the states - not sure if that matters). What do you suggest? I do not have any ability to add CO2 in - nor do I want to go that route if at ALL avoidable. These are all 5.5 gallon tanks with one fish in each, and a 28w bulb. Thanks!

 

[RadaR]

But in all my tanks, the male betta's fins are getting ripped up by the stupid silk plants

Silk plants somehow caused your Bettas fins to rip...?
I'm sure I'm not the first to raise eyebrows at this nor have I heard anything like it in 6 years.

As for the tank, leave the light on for 7 hours a day. Dose Seachem Flourish Excel everyday. Dose Seachem Flourish (micro nutrients) every other day. Dose Seachem Flourish Nitrogen and Seachem Flourish Phosphorus(macro nutrients) on a different day to the micro nutrients.
If your tap water has good amount of nitrate and phosphate in it, then you don't need to add the last two products. Just do 2 water changes a week to keep the nitrate and phosphate level up for the plants.
Oh, and plant heavily. Cover at least 75% of the gravel in the tank with plants.

 

[Winterlily]

Silk plants somehow caused your Bettas fins to rip...?
I'm sure I'm not the first to raise eyebrows at this nor have I heard anything like it in 6 years.

Yes they sure did. More than once. Silk plants aren't all silk - only the LEAVES are. The stems are plastic (and if you run your fingers over them, they are not always totally smooth), and, more importantly, the manufacturers insist on putting things like little pointy "buds" and "shoots" that are fully plastic and absolutely destroy my heavily finned halfmoon's tail and dorsal, yes. One of mine is far more sensitive than the other, but both have tears in their fins. (I have one who bites his OWN fins - but that's not who I'm talking about here.) When put with live plants, all fins heal and grow back. So yes, it's the silk plants, even when I think I'm sure there's nothing pointy and sharp and all that - I always find something else. Be nice to find silk plants that were truly safe and gentle as one assumes, but they aren't. At least of those I have available to me. Have a good look at a silk plant and run your fingers over it - you'll likely see exactly what I mean.

Thanks for the info on the Flourish products. So I do need at least both. Will check my tap water stats for nitrogen and phosphorus and add them too if needed. Thanks!

 

[Rlon35]

I dose Flourish Comprehensive twice a week, Excel every day, and Potassium/Iron a couple times a week. I don't dose Phosphorus and Nitrogen...my plants look great.

 

[RadaR]

I dose Flourish Comprehensive twice a week, Excel every day, and Potassium/Iron a couple times a week. I don't dose Phosphorus and Nitrogen...my plants look great.

Probably because you have low light and your fish produce enough phosphorus and nitrogen for the plants.

The OP will only be having one fish in the tank and the lighting is 28W. Additional N+P will probably be needed.