When To Add Fertilizer?

[fatheadminnow]

Well I just got plants for my 29 gallon, (will post pics tomorrow).

I just want to know, how often to add the fertilizer? Every day? Once a week?

Thanks
-FHM

 

[puppyjess123]

Depends what plants, your setup (e.g co2, lighting) I would do it daily for the best growth though

Lucy

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

It is gonna also depend on what the instructions say?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Hi

It is gonna also depend on what the instructions say?

That's exactly it...no instructions, besides 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons.

20 watts, T8, 18,000 K

No Co2

4xSwords
1xAnubius
1xFern
4xUnknown(LFS said I could have a couple more for free since I was "interested" in plants...lol)

Thanks for the replies!
-FHM

 

[puppyjess123]

Hmm on that I would say daily, but I'm no expert so wait for a more expeirienced member to give their opinion.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Hmm on that I would say daily, but I'm no expert so wait for a more expeirienced member to give their opinion.

Okay thanks!

Hopefully someone with a little more knowledge on this particular subject will let me know their thoughts?
Thanks again!
-FHM

 

[OldMan47]

Can you at least give us a hint of what says a teaspoon per 10 gallons. Is this some kind of prepackaged liquid? Does the manufacturer maintain a web site? Are you trying to dose trace chemicals or the main 3 plant foods, N, P and K? Frankly, I would be surprised if a 18000K bulb did anything for a plant. It is way too far off the hot end of the spectrum to have very much light in the range that plants use, the thing must look quite blue when it is lit.

 

[Socks]

Aye,I think it's really all about your light levels,c02,what plants you have, how many and water changes.You kinda have to "find" what is right for your set up,using what the bottle says for a guide to make a good gusse to start.For instance I have a 70 gallon low light planted about 2 wpg and no c02,doing 20%-30% water changes once a week.I only douse just under HALF of what the bottle says after my water changes are done and that seams to be the sweet spot for me.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks for he replies!

What would be a good light for plants, other than the 18000K?

The title for the fertilizer is Plant Gro, Iron Enriched.

0.15-0-0

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

FHM, If you're following reduced EI, or something similar, then there's a general principle related to your original question. In EI you're going to dose the 17 or so plant nutrients such that hopefully there's a little excess of them all week long prior to the water change that brings the levels back under. Then you re-dose after the water change and the levels are back up in full abundance again.

The tricky part is that depending on what substance is used to supply each of the individual nutrients, there will be a certain level that needs to be supplied so that the water column will end up with the correct nutrient percentages. If you mix up fertilizers from scratch, the amounts are in planted tank forum pinned articles. If you rely on a commercial fertilizer then you need to find, as OM47 says, their online stats or numbers on the package. Not knowing anything else, that 15-0-0 you've mentioned implies that your fertilizer is just a Nitrogen macro fertilizer. Nitrogen is an important macro-fert., but is just one of the 17 or so you need. (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium ("N-P-K") are referred to as "the macro-nutrients", Carbon is in a class by itself, and all the rest are lumped together and called "the micro-nutrients.")

For instance, here are some numbers (in mg./mo. to support 20g of plant growth): C-8,000, N-320, K-160, Ca-56, P-28, Mg-20, S-16, Fe-1.2, Zn-0.16, Mn-0.08, Cu-0.03, B-0.026, Mo-0.003 -- this being just to show the rough relationship of amounts to each other of some of the main nutrients plants use, not for you to use for calculating things out or anything like that.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[fatheadminnow]

Can you at least give us a hint of what says a teaspoon per 10 gallons. Is this some kind of prepackaged liquid? Does the manufacturer maintain a web site? Are you trying to dose trace chemicals or the main 3 plant foods, N, P and K? Frankly, I would be surprised if a 18000K bulb did anything for a plant. It is way too far off the hot end of the spectrum to have very much light in the range that plants use, the thing must look quite blue when it is lit.

It says 1 tespoon(1 cap full) per 10 gallons of water on the back of the bottle. And yes, it is a liquid prepackaged fertilizer. I do not think the manufacture has a website. I think it is dosing the three main chemicals, along with some others as well. (I am at school now and do not of the bottle with me). What would be a good bulb rating in Kelvin?

Thanks
-FHM

 

[fatheadminnow]

FHM, If you're following reduced EI, or something similar, then there's a general principle related to your original question. In EI you're going to dose the 17 or so plant nutrients such that hopefully there's a little excess of them all week long prior to the water change that brings the levels back under. Then you re-dose after the water change and the levels are back up in full abundance again.

The tricky part is that depending on what substance is used to supply each of the individual nutrients, there will be a certain level that needs to be supplied so that the water column will end up with the correct nutrient percentages. If you mix up fertilizers from scratch, the amounts are in planted tank forum pinned articles. If you rely on a commercial fertilizer then you need to find, as OM47 says, their online stats or numbers on the package. Not knowing anything else, that 15-0-0 you've mentioned implies that your fertilizer is just a Nitrogen macro fertilizer. Nitrogen is an important macro-fert., but is just one of the 17 or so you need. (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium ("N-P-K") are referred to as "the macro-nutrients", Carbon is in a class by itself, and all the rest are lumped together and called "the micro-nutrients.")

For instance, here are some numbers (in mg./mo. to support 20g of plant growth): C-8,000, N-320, K-160, Ca-56, P-28, Mg-20, S-16, Fe-1.2, Zn-0.16, Mn-0.08, Cu-0.03, B-0.026, Mo-0.003 -- this being just to show the rough relationship of amounts to each other of some of the main nutrients plants use, not for you to use for calculating things out or anything like that.

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for that info.

On the back of the bottle, it has a long list of other things that are in the fertilizer, but since I am at school I do not have the bottle with me.

Is there any type of fertilizer that is store bought that you could recommend fore me?

And what kind of bulb should I be using for the plants light source?

Thanks a gain for your help!
-FHM

 

[fatheadminnow]

Here is a little more info I got off of google about this product(not manufactures website)

Hagen Nutrafin Plant Gro Iron Enriched Aquatic Plant Fertilizer
Optimize growth and bring out the vibrant colors in your freshwater aquatic plants with Plant Gro.Iron and Trace ElementsPlant Gro Iron Enriched is an important food additive for aquatic plants. It contains beneficial iron and trace elements that make plants thrive.Promotes Lush GrowthThe addition of Plant Gro Iron Enriched will effectively promote lush plant growth and encourage vibrant colors without affecting fish or other aquatic organisms.Safe for Fish and Aquatic OrganismsPlant Gro Iron Enriched contains only chelated iron, which is easily assimilated by plants and safe for aquatic organisms.Easy to UseSimply add the ready-to-use liquid Plant Gro Iron Enriched to your tank water according to dosage instructions. No mixing or preparation.

-FHM

 

[Underwurlde]

You are state-side re ferts, so God knows. I use cheap as chips raw KNO2 and KH2PO4, a pinch once a week to back up my good substrate. I combine this with a good liquid for the other nuturients.

Otherwise, an all in one liquid fert would be something like Tropica Plant Nutrition Plus.

Good planted tank bulbs
Full-Spectrum (Tri-Phosphor) Lamps
Widely regarded as the best light for growing aquarium plants is the full-spectrum lamp. This means that the light output peaks in three (regular T8s peak in two) colours giving a “fuller” light more likely to meet the plant’s photosynthesising requirements. Photosynthesis occurs most efficiently with peaks in the red and (and a lesser extent) blue parts of the spectrum. Most full-spectrum lamps will give a cool white light, ideal for both plants and for viewing and will have a high Colour Rendition Index (CRI) meaning that the illuminated objects will appear in their natural colour.

Examples of Full-Spectrum (Tri-Phosphor) Lamps Ideal for Plant Growth
Dennerle - Special-Plant 3000K Warm, yellow / orange
Hagen - Life-Glo 6700K Bright, cool white
Arcadia - Freshwater Lamp 7500K Cool white / green
Zoo Med - Tropic-Sun 5500K Warm white
Zoo Med - Ultra-Sun 6500K Bright Cool white
InterPet – Triton / Triplus 8300K Bright white / purple (pink / too purple used alone).
InterPet - Daylight Plus 6500K Cool white (Power Compact T5)
Osram Daylight Power Compact
JBL Solar Natur (George Farmer)

Planted Tank Combos:
InterPet TriPlus & Arcadia Freshwater.
Zoo Med Ultra-Sun & Arcadia Freshwater.
InterPet Daylight Plus.

Good bulbs for bringing out the colours of the Fish
ColourMax
Arcadia ‘Original’ & Arcadia ‘Freshwater’

Personally, I combine Arcadia 'Origninal' with an Arcadia 'Freshwater' - good for plants & fish look stunning t'boot.

-------------

Note: More light drives more plant growth. As a really crappy GENERAL rule (people) anything >2.0Watts / Gallon (lights WITH reflector) then you need to start adding CO2 to meet increased growth and hence dropping in ferts daily, (otherwise you'll get algae). You are now in the realms of EI. Ensure your tank is well planted....

No one said keeping plants was easy I hope!

Cheers,

Andy

 

[fatheadminnow]

You are state-side re ferts, so God knows. I use cheap as chips raw KNO2 and KH2PO4, a pinch once a week to back up my good substrate. I combine this with a good liquid for the other nuturients.

Otherwise, an all in one liquid fert would be something like Tropica Plant Nutrition Plus.

Good planted tank bulbs
Full-Spectrum (Tri-Phosphor) Lamps
Widely regarded as the best light for growing aquarium plants is the full-spectrum lamp. This means that the light output peaks in three (regular T8s peak in two) colours giving a “fuller” light more likely to meet the plant’s photosynthesising requirements. Photosynthesis occurs most efficiently with peaks in the red and (and a lesser extent) blue parts of the spectrum. Most full-spectrum lamps will give a cool white light, ideal for both plants and for viewing and will have a high Colour Rendition Index (CRI) meaning that the illuminated objects will appear in their natural colour.

Examples of Full-Spectrum (Tri-Phosphor) Lamps Ideal for Plant Growth
Dennerle - Special-Plant 3000K Warm, yellow / orange
Hagen - Life-Glo 6700K Bright, cool white
Arcadia - Freshwater Lamp 7500K Cool white / green
Zoo Med - Tropic-Sun 5500K Warm white
Zoo Med - Ultra-Sun 6500K Bright Cool white
InterPet – Triton / Triplus 8300K Bright white / purple (pink / too purple used alone).
InterPet - Daylight Plus 6500K Cool white (Power Compact T5)
Osram Daylight Power Compact
JBL Solar Natur (George Farmer)

Planted Tank Combos:
InterPet TriPlus & Arcadia Freshwater.
Zoo Med Ultra-Sun & Arcadia Freshwater.
InterPet Daylight Plus.

Good bulbs for bringing out the colours of the Fish
ColourMax
Arcadia ‘Original’ & Arcadia ‘Freshwater’

Personally, I combine Arcadia 'Origninal' with an Arcadia 'Freshwater' - good for plants & fish look stunning t'boot.

-------------

Note: More light drives more plant growth. As a really crappy GENERAL rule (people) anything >2.0Watts / Gallon (lights WITH reflector) then you need to start adding CO2 to meet increased growth and hence dropping in ferts daily, (otherwise you'll get algae). You are now in the realms of EI. Ensure your tank is well planted....

No one said keeping plants was easy I hope!

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks for that useful info...well I guess I will have to get a bulb that is not 18000K...lol...oops.

EDIT: If you click the My 29 Gallon in my sig, you will be able to see some recent pics of my tank.

Thanks
-FHM