Anacharis vs. Traditional?

[Essjay]

As with garden plants there are macronutrients - nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus - and micronutrients. Aquarium plants get their macronutrients from the ammonia made by the fish (nitrogen) and from fish food (potassium, phosphorus) but they also need these trace element micronutrients. One of the best sources of these micronutirents is Seachem Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Tank.

 

[cupofjoel]

As with garden plants there are macronutrients - nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus - and micronutrients. Aquarium plants get their macronutrients from the ammonia made by the fish (nitrogen) and from fish food (potassium, phosphorus) but they also need these trace element micronutrients. One of the best sources of these micronutirents is Seachem Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Tank.

I don't have flourish, but this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DXB8W4J/?tag=ff0d01-20

would this be okay for micronutrients?

 

[Retired Viking]

Do we always need to dose ferts? I always thought fish provided that since fish poop gives what plants need, nitrogen.

I use ferts/plant tabs for my sword plants because they use their roots to get what they need.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I had the same problem you're having with duckweed (salvinia sp.)--always turning upside down or otherwise getting where I didn't want it. I really like frogbit. Anacharis can get messy when it's floating, but it can be trimmed. Asian water grass is nice too if you can find it. Dwarf lilies (Nymphea rubra, if I remember correctly) are great, but take longer to grow and provide shade. Maybe try a combination and see what works.

 

[mbsqw1d]

I don't have flourish, but this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DXB8W4J/?tag=ff0d01-20

would this be okay for micronutrients?

Does it show what nutrients it contains on the bottle? Doesnt appear to show it on the Amazon listing?

 

[seangee]

Some of the reviews say it raises nitrates and contains potassium. I would not use it if that is the case. My comment was based on my own experience previously when I tried to grow floating plants. They always seemed to start well and then went yellow and died after 6-12 weeks. Other members have reported similar.

 

[cupofjoel]

Some of the reviews say it raises nitrates and contains potassium. I would not use it if that is the case. My comment was based on my own experience previously when I tried to grow floating plants. They always seemed to start well and then went yellow and died after 6-12 weeks. Other members have reported similar.

Yeah, I'm close to giving up on my floating plants. They are getting on my nerves every time I do a water change. Also, the biofilm on the surface of my water is also getting annoying since the floating plants are preventing my surface skimmer from doing its job. I ordered a bunch of anacharis and hopefully I can use them instead of the floating plants.

 

[ClownLurch]

The salvinas doing my fins in as well.
I’ve been doing daily water changes for medicinal reasons and they just get tangled and stuck beneath the surface. I’m easing it out in favour of frog it and water lettuce.

 

[cupofjoel]

Some of the reviews say it raises nitrates and contains potassium. I would not use it if that is the case. My comment was based on my own experience previously when I tried to grow floating plants. They always seemed to start well and then went yellow and died after 6-12 weeks. Other members have reported similar.

It's supposed to raise nitrates since it's what plants need. You just need to make sure nitrates don't go above 20ppm. It's about monitoring your dosing and getting it right for your tank and maintenance schedule. My original question was why we need to dose in the first place if fish poop is what plants need. If we need other things that fish poop don't provide then I understand the need for ferts.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

The salvinas doing my fins in as well.
I’ve been doing daily water changes for medicinal reasons and they just get tangled and stuck beneath the surface. I’m easing it out in favour of frog it and water lettuce.

I completely agree. Salvinia looks nice when you first get It... but then the roots get super short and the plant starts dying.

If I do get another floating plant, it will be frog bit or water lettuce.

 

[cupofjoel]

I completely agree. Salvinia looks nice when you first get It... but then the roots get super short and the plant starts dying.

If I do get another floating plant, it will be frog bit or water lettuce.

I've had bad experiences with water lettuce as well. They keep getting water on top of them and turn yellow and rot.

 

[Flushable Pets]

I've had bad experiences with water lettuce as well. They keep getting water on top of them and turn yellow and rot.

That's been my experience as well. Then I just take then out and throw them in a bucket of old fish water on the back porch and they seem to perk up and throw out some babies. Rinse and repeat.

 

[cupofjoel]

That's been my experience as well. Then I just take then out and throw them in a bucket of old fish water on the back porch and they seem to perk up and throw out some babies. Rinse and repeat.

I gave up. I'm going to use anacharis exclusively as a floating plant. It'll give my fish cover and still suck up nitrates and ammonia from the water column.