Tetra Plantamin Or Pond Platamin?

[minxfishy]

So as Im going for plants in my new tank (its arriving tomorrow - Im so excited ) was having a look around for some liquid ferts for the plants, whats the difference between the tetra plantamin or the pond plantamin, except the price?

Or can anyone recommend something else I should be using which is preferably not too expensive.

Plants will be, Loads of java fern, moss, wisteria, vallis, cabomba, frogbit - nothing too exciting but I have to start somewhere.

 

[Truck]

i think pond plantamin is more concentrated, but this stuff may be better Tropica plant nutrition +, ive never used plantamin but TPN+ is one of the best all in one ferts on the market

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...26um1lvtsuukd60

 

[minxfishy]

Trouble with that Truck is the amount I would need, 5ml per 50L is gonna get expensive on a 400L tank. Thats why I was wondering about the pond stuff, as its 50ml per 2000L, ok so I would adjust that down to my tank size, but its only about £4 a bottle which would last a longer time.

 

[Truck]

oh i didnt realise the size lol, pond plantamin, will be better then but im not sure if it contains N+P

EDIT*

doesnt contain N+P so another fert as well as platamin ma be a good investment

 

[Davo86]

Hey Minx
I always used to use plantamin (before my Sev took a liking to the plants) As said the pond plantamin is just a stronger batch,
I would add tetra crypto tabs when you introduce the plants and then use the pond plantamin as a liquid top up, thats what i used to do and the plants always grew well

 

[minxfishy]

From tetra:

TetraPond PlantaMin is a liquid fertiliser containing all of the nutrients that plants need. It does not contain additional nitrate or phosphate, and therefore will not encourage algae to grow.



How it Works
Submerged aquatic plants absorb nutrients from the water through their leaves. They therefore require sufficient supplies of these nutrients in the water. PlantaMin increases and maintains the levels of essential nutrients, ensuring the good health and growth of submerged pond plants.

How to Use
Add 50ml of PlantaMin for every 1000 litres (220 gallons) of pond water. Treat at this dose at the start of the season, and then at half this dose every 2-3 weeks.


So its 1000L not 2000L - my bad.

Hey Minx
I always used to use plantamin (before my Sev took a liking to the plants) As said the pond plantamin is just a stronger batch,
I would add tetra crypto tabs when you introduce the plants and then use the pond plantamin as a liquid top up, thats what i used to do and the plants always grew well

Thanks Davo, sounds like a good idea, I was wondering if I should add tabs as well

 

[Truck]

It does not contain additional nitrate or phosphate, and therefore will not encourage algae to grow.

excess nitrates and phosphates do not cause algae, its a misconception, it feeds algae, and doesnt cause it.

nitrates, phosphates and potassium (macro nutrients) are the most important nutrients for plant growth and health, and to my knowledge the tetra product contains just the trace elements (micro nutrients) have you looked at the TPN+ tabs?

 

[minxfishy]

I was going to get the API root tabs and the pond stuff, due to the fact its cheaper, I have no clue on the phosphates and all that jazz

Just want to add something now and again for the plants to help them a bit, on a pure whim that I might actually be able to keep some alive this time round (gave up yonks ago on live plants as they always died on me) and fingers crossed my Sev doesnt munch them all.

 

[aaronnorth]

You could buy the pond plantamin for traces, then buy 2 seperate products that contain N&P. Or the best way to do it is to buy dry powders, they are very cheap and easy to use:

Potassium Nitrate - 40g to 500ml of water and adding 10ml per 100L of water would give you a value of 5ppm.
Potassium Phosphate - 15g to 500ml of water and adding 5ml per 100L of water would give you a value of 1ppm.
Trace mix - 15g to 250ml of water will give you about the same concentration as the off the shelf products. It is also a good idea, if you can, to add 0.5ml Normal hydrochloric acid as this helps to prevent the chelator from breaking down

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=104737

You can then dose as much or as little as you need to to give you extra control. You can add powders directly to the tank, or mix them up in water to make it into a liquid fert.

 

[minxfishy]

Thanks aaron, but simple woman here Isnt there a recommended liquid fert that I can buy and just add once a week that works, that looks way to complicated for me, I just want the plants to grow a little and survive to keep my fish happy. If the plant stuff isnt good enough, which liquid fert is best, not expensive and doesnt need a science degree on my part to work?

 

[elaine128]

hi there, i`v been reading this post with interest, i use easy carbo every day and easy profito once a week, have had good results but think its quite an expensive way of feeding plants,i`m very interested in using tetrapond plantamin but worry if its safe to use on all tropical fish,and would i use easy carbo as well as plantamin?

 

[aaronnorth]

What size tank is it?
Fish stocking?
lighting? (wattage, and diameter)

 

[minxfishy]

Tank is rio 400 with juwel T5 54W (least I think thats what they are, juwel standard t5's anyway), juwel internal filter (for now), the original stocking will be 21 various rainbowfish, 1 severum, 11 corydoras (which I already have, slow stocking from then on with more rainbows), plants are: java ferns (lots), twisted vallis, wisteria, cabomba and frogbit (quickly being eaten).

 

[SuperColey1]

Never buy a plant product if they say anything like this on their labels:

TetraPond PlantaMin is a liquid fertiliser containing all of the nutrients that plants need. It does not contain additional nitrate or phosphate, and therefore will not encourage algae to grow.

The fact is actually the opposite will happen. It will encourage algae to grow because without N&P the plants will run defficient and release ammonia into the water while they run defficient and rot and then this ammonia will trigger algae.

As said before TPN+ or dry powders are the best way to go. Forget the label price on things and look long term. TPN+ may cost more per week/month than Plantamin but then with the Plantamin you have to use an N&P source alongside it so it will cost more anyway!!! You will then also be replacing dead plants so which is cheaper?

It's a false economy. I've said it many times but those who always go cheap end up paying more. A famous UK aquascaper often uses when talking about where to buy plants from 'buy cheap, buy twice'. This is not far from the truth!!!

No need for root tabs if you are dosing the water column either!!!

AC

 

[minxfishy]

Ok, thanks, will get some TPN+ then as Id like to actually keep some plants alive this time round