Plant Ferts

[BINKSY]

Hello,

At the moment i am using kent freshwater plant ferts, (pro plant and freshwater plant), Although they are very good, its getting quite expensive, does anyone know if there is anything out there available that i can purchase to mix the ferts myself, without going EI.

 

[-=Joel=-]

I would imagine you could buy the dry ferts but only add them once a week after a 50% water change ?

Joel

 

[George Farmer]

I understand Kent products tell you the ingredients on the packaging, or on their website (I'm too busy to look right now).

With a bit of calculating you may be able to "roll your own" and dose exactly as you are if you're having success.

 

[BINKSY]

ok, i emailed richard at aqua essentials and asked about using the trace elelments mix, he said that would be ok, but be careful when dosing as it is quite srong, just wondered about other peoples thought on this, and is anyone else using this product?

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh I do, had found it very good. Its not the best, the tropica plant nutrition contains several more elements, but its way more expensive. The only thing I would say is that I overdosed it in my nano and I'm pretty sure it caused a mass outbreak of BBA, as there are not that many fast growers in the tank. So until you've got more experience dose at the recommended rate.

Sam

 

[BINKSY]

thanx for the advice sam, i think i will be putting in a order over the weekend and give it a try

Gordon

 

[Themuleous]

Cool, its very good and very cheap!

I see you're from Oxford, know Barry at the Gold Fish Bowl? An OK selection of plants but nothing out of the ordinary that often.

Sam

 

[BINKSY]

Yes i know of Barry, i tend to buy most of my fish from there, i know where your coming from about the plants, i also think the plants there are overpriced.


Gordon

 

[BINKSY]

Sam, what is the recommended dosing for the trace mix, when i get mine i was going to mix up a stock solution, do i need to use ro water for this?


Cheers Gordon

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh apart from the tanks I think the shop is generally over priced, as much as I love the place, its costly. But that said the quality of the fish is excellent so you get what you pay for I guess! Have several fish that are several years old, which I got from them.

Re the trace mix, yes use RO, as tap water will contain various things and that'll muck up the dose rate. As per the website dilute 1 tablespoon per 500ml of RO water and dose at a rate of 10ml per 100lt of tank water or 1ml per 10lt. Easy to do

Sam

 

[BINKSY]

Yes i know how much to mix, but not sure on how many times a week to start with? any ideas would be helpful?


I agree with you about the shop being overpriced in general, but apart from maidenhead aquactics in wheatly we do not have a huge choice in shops to visit nearby. But like you sam i do love having a nose in the tanks at the goldfish bowl,.

Cheers Gordon

 

[Themuleous]

Oh right sorry! If you're doing EI or similar high light fert dosing, dose it at the recommended rate 3x per week. If not I would dose once a week, low light tanks require far less ferts than high light tanks.

Yeh the wheatley MA is good, dont think the staff are as knowledgeable, but since Jeramey Gay has started working there at weekends there fish selection has improved dramatically (think he must have a say in what they order), often unusual and interesting fish in there, (did you see the breeding pair of bettas going for 200quid!?!?!) just wish I had more space in my tanks! Both are good shops to visit during my lunch hour, gets me away from the office to rest my brain!

The MA has also recently reduced the price of its Rena and juwel tanks so is now cheaper than the Golf Fish Bowl, which is saying something as the Fish Bowl is cheap for tank, about the only thing! Rena 150x50 for £795 in MA and £870 in Fish Bowl. Its gonna be my next tank!

Sam

 

[BINKSY]

Sam thanks for the info on the dosing, i put in my order yesterday so am looking forward to recieving them.

Right i have a 240 litre tank with 2 39w T5 lamps and a 38w T8 lamp, both T5 have reflectors, i am injecting co2 need to check levels but last time it was around 25ppm.


I did not see the breeding pair bettas and i was there on sat brought 6 black neons, am looking for maybe some keyhole cichlids for my tank, seems they are ok for a community tank, nice looking fish too.

That rena tank sounds a good deal sam i am assuming thats a full set up complete with stand in fact im sure it is, lol

Cheers Gordon

 

[Themuleous]

It sure is! And as its the rena it has an external filter rather than an internal like the juwel tanks have. Sweet setup. Will need to upgrade the lighting but that's to be expected.

Your tank sounds cool, you gonna start a journal so we can see it?

Sam

 

[BINKSY]

Yes i will add pics soon sam, its been planted about 5 weeks now, have tried before about 12 months ago, had to learn the hard way though, lol

My lighting was upgraded then too to the T5s too using a pressurised dennerle co2 system 2 bubbles a min, as the first post here using kent freshwater ferts but boy they burn a hole in your pocket, lo, also thinking seriously about getting a external co2 reactor the same as joel got, have you seen his journal? ang hopefully santa will bring me a eternal heater, lol

Have you seen the red zebra danios at the goldfish bowl, i love danios anyway but these are very colourful and are not dye injected, i asked the question. I think me needs to set up my 2ft tank for these got every thing apart from light is buggerd but a new lamp and starter will sort this.


Cheers Gordon

I believe MA sell ro water so will need to visit at the weekend so i can mix my ferts