CO2 and fertilizer

[rdd1952]

I just bought a CO2 system as my plants aren't doing well. I am fighting a blue green algae outbreak and thought if I could get my plants growing better they would start using the nutrients that the algae is taking. It came with a bottle of Plant GRO Iron Enriched fertilizer .15-0-0. Is anyone familiar with this stuff? I don't want to put anything in the water that is going to mess up my tank.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

i think its not really good to add fertilizer to combat algae getting your tank in balance is still the best way

o ya when you learn how to keep you tank in balance !! TEACH ME ! LOL

 

[Silly me]

if the fertilizer NPK value is 15-0-0, its not a good choice for your aquarium, your looking for something close to 5-1-8 after its added to the water and since my water comes with nitrates in it already plus the fish waste, I would love to just add Potassium 0-0-1

you do get nice grow stick that is 5-1-5.

But I think your tank is already over fertilize if it wasn't there wouldn't be any algae and the plant would have been showing signs of deficiencies

 

[Salt Freak]

Silly me are you running metal halides on your sig tank.

 

[Aulonochromis]

I would ditch the Hagen fertilizer, and get some Flourish or Tropica Master Grow, trust me I have used the Hagen stuff. Use the Flourish or TMG for traces, and pick up some potassium nitrate from a hydroponic shop or pharmacy. BGA is said to thrive with low levels of nitrogen. Test your water and see what your nitrates and phosphates are. The ideal amount is 10-20 ppm for nitrate and 1 ppm for phosphate. I have read that having a deficiency in nitrate or phosphate causes algae because the plants need both of them, but algae being a simpler life form does not and thrives when the plants stop growing.

 

[rdd1952]

The Plant Gro is actually a 0.15-0-0, iron enriched which really sounds like nothing more than an iron additive. My nitrates are only running about 7.5 to 10. I guess I will buy a phosphate test kit. The wisteria I added about 2 weeks ago is growing like a weed but everything else seems to be stalled. How do you prune wisteria anyway?

 

[Silly me]

Silly me are you running metal halides on your sig tank.

nope.. I on my sig tank I have three 30w Sunbrite that I overdrive.. and its a 30Gallon tank

 

[NikkiY]

Silly me are you running metal halides on your sig tank.

nope.. I on my sig tank I have three 30w Sunbrite that I overdrive.. and its a 30Gallon tank

How do you "overdrive" the flouresent light?

Nikki