Rowaphos, Fertilisers And Carbon Filters

[russellbrooke]

rowaphos

I'm trying to keep my phosphates down by using rowaphos. As i understand, high phosphates encourage big algae problems. So, any comments, does it work? Good idea, bad idea?

carbon filters and fertilisers

I've just reaquscaped, and I’ve changed my substrate to sand. As a result i want to run my tank with carbon filters to take any pollutants out before i put fish in. So, can you run a tank with carbon filters whilst dosing with fertilisers. I currently use greenline’s pro-aqua plant ferts (it's a bag of ferts you leave in the tank for about 3 months at a time). I'm guessing not, as i would think the carbon will absorb dosing from ferts?

Russ

 

[craynerd]

How heavily planted is your tank and what is your phosphate level actually at?

Phosphate is an essential macro needed by plants (NPK). You are 100% correct tho, it can lead to algae issues but if you are heavily planted and it isn`t too high, with the correct fertilisation scheme it could incorperate it as a free fert!

Chris

 

[russellbrooke]

It's quite high. I'll get an exact reading when i'm at home.

The tank is not overly planted at the moment, but i'm working on making it really heavliy planted.