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KAFish

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Jun 15, 2020
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Location
NW London
Hi

New to the whole aquarium game. I have started as i mean to go on with a live planted tank in sand substrate

I have followed my local PS advice (rubbish) and pumped 2 squirts initially of TRopica premium fertilizer i then followed up exactly 1 week after with a single pump off my own back as i felt the plants needed a little something.

I have also at the 1 week point added some root tabs(seachem flourish) in 3 key areas just to ensure in approx 1 week time some micronutrients are also getting to the roots.

I noticed both tropica premium and seach flourish tabs both focus on micronutrients, would i also require some macro nutrients with the easy care plants?

My progress so far:
Black sand subsrate
1 piece of driftwood
a few pieces of dragonstone some with moss attached..

Plants:
Hygrophilia siamensis 53b
https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdeta ... 053B)/4493

Java fern
https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdeta ... (008)/4408

Taxiphyllum Bariberi
https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdeta ... 3POR)/4391

Heteranthera zosterifolia
https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdeta ... 96TC)/4544

Ludwigia Rubins
https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdeta ... 033D)/4450

Saggitaria Subulata -medium co2 - i have no co 2 injection.
https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdeta ... (079)/4530

Murdannia Keisak
https://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdeta ... (135)/4763

Just ordered some Ludwigia Mini Super Red for a little more colour and Fire and taxiphyllum flame for a finger wood im contemplating adding if i can trim it to suit the space without overcrowing the main area.

Ive noticed my murdannia has started to go brwon from the stem and it is slowly rising upwards, ive read i should expect leaves to melt /die once added to a new environment but just wanted to be sure as none of my other plants are showing these signs so early.
My light is super standard LED that came with the starter kit doesnt mention wattage so its currently unknown. also picture attached.

My starter kit is :

Thanks all

pics attached
 

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On the micro/macro nutrient question. Most quality fertilizers are intended for natural or low-tech method planted tanks so they supply what is usually more likely missing. Most areas have moderately hard water, more or less, and the hardness is the measure of dissolved "hard" minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium; these are macro-nutrients, but may be substantiasl in the source water, so these minerals are usually minimal in fertilizers. Fish foods provide most of the nutrients, but this can obviously vary in quantity dependiing upon thhe fish load and feeding. Water changes may replenish the hard nutrients. Then there are plants that require fewer nutrients (and less light) because they are slow growing, up to plants that are faster-growing and thus requiring more nutrients and stronger light.

I have very soft water (zero GH/KH) and I use the Flourish Tabs and Flourish Comprehensive Supplement and have no problems with plants. However, some will not manage in this, but my lighting to balance is moderate which also impacts plant growth. But using both products, my swords have improved and I no longer see calcium deficiency issues.

Red leaf plants need stronger light. This is because red (primarily) and blue light drives photosynthesis. Leaves appear red because they reflect red light (green leaves reflect green light) so red leaf plants need even more red light, which translates as stronger light. I have no luck with red leaf plants, aside from a couple of the crypts that have reddish/brown leaves. I stay with what works in my situation, because the fish are the primary focus.
 
On the micro/macro nutrient question. Most quality fertilizers are intended for natural or low-tech method planted tanks so they supply what is usually more likely missing. Most areas have moderately hard water, more or less, and the hardness is the measure of dissolved "hard" minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium; these are macro-nutrients, but may be substantiasl in the source water, so these minerals are usually minimal in fertilizers. Fish foods provide most of the nutrients, but this can obviously vary in quantity dependiing upon thhe fish load and feeding. Water changes may replenish the hard nutrients. Then there are plants that require fewer nutrients (and less light) because they are slow growing, up to plants that are faster-growing and thus requiring more nutrients and stronger light.

I have very soft water (zero GH/KH) and I use the Flourish Tabs and Flourish Comprehensive Supplement and have no problems with plants. However, some will not manage in this, but my lighting to balance is moderate which also impacts plant growth. But using both products, my swords have improved and I no longer see calcium deficiency issues.

Red leaf plants need stronger light. This is because red (primarily) and blue light drives photosynthesis. Leaves appear red because they reflect red light (green leaves reflect green light) so red leaf plants need even more red light, which translates as stronger light. I have no luck with red leaf plants, aside from a couple of the crypts that have reddish/brown leaves. I stay with what works in my situation, because the fish are the primary focus.
Agree. My water comes out of the tap 450ppm. In the beginning I gave fertilizer to tanks but all 7 had issues. I now don't dose unless VERY heavily planted. I DO use eco complete and root tabs. But limit liquid ferts.
 
Agree. My water comes out of the tap 450ppm. In the beginning I gave fertilizer to tanks but all 7 had issues. I now don't dose unless VERY heavily planted. I DO use eco complete and root tabs. But limit liquid ferts.
Thanks i feel the fertilizer was sold to me because i dont have any nutrients in my substrate its plain sand, so for that reason i wanted to put some tabs for the root feeders and fertz for the water feeders.
 
Thanks i feel the fertilizer was sold to me because i dont have any nutrients in my substrate its plain sand, so for that reason i wanted to put some tabs for the root feeders and fertz for the water feeders.
I use root tabs in ALL my tanks. Some plants like swords feed mostly from substrate.
I still have and use liquid fertilizer. Just not as much as someone with low ppm tap water.
 

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