Fertiliser

[the_lock_man]

Am I right in thinking that TPN+ is only nitrogen and phosphorous? In which case, do I need to dose other chemicals as well?

 

[ian]

no, TPN+ is a complete fert. It also contains all the trace you need, as well as the N & P. I have swapped back to TPN+, tis a brilliant fertiliser.

 

[snazy]

This link says it contains everything:

http/www.tropica.com/aquacare/plant-nutritionplus-liquid.aspx

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have used Tropica MasterGrow for years. Its is now rebranded under the name Plant Nutrician. It is basically everything the plants need save nitrogen and phosphorus (or nitrate which is only needed in high tech tanks). It does contain potassium.

The TPN+ is just the above with the nitrogen and phosphorus added.

I recently experimented with a homemade formula for making something close to TPN. After a couple of months I restocked TPN. I can not praise the Tropica ferts enough. This outfit is one of the world's premier, developers, growers and sellers of Aquarium plants.

Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' is a patented variety of Microsorum pteropus, named after Tropica's founder Holger Windeløv.

 

[snazy]

I can not praise the Tropica ferts enough.

I never tried ferts yet, but I got the Flourish Excel, which is still in the post. Are Tropica ferts better you think, or are they just different?

 

[the_lock_man]

Thanks!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

As I noted above, Tropica has been in the Aquatic Plant game for decades. They grow and even create new plant varieties. I always figured if they used the stuff it was the result of more experience with plants than anybody else out there,

Understand that there are cheaper ways to fertilize out there, but I know their stuff works great and it makes everything much easier. The reason I use the TPN and and not the + is because I dose a number of different setups, many of which get some potassium and phosphorus but produce sufficient nitrogen that no supplementation is needed. I only run pressurized gas co2 in one tank, almost all the rest get Excel weekly after water changes.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Are Tropica ferts better you think, or are they just different?

Both. Excel is a co2 alternative. To make a Tropica equivalent with Seachem you'd need the flourish trace, nitrogen and phosphorus bottles.

I always figured if they used the stuff it was the result of more experience with plants than anybody else out there,

In their scapes. It's unlikely they use their retail ferts in the nursery.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Their nursery uses a much more sophisticated system than any hobbyist might. My impression is that they use the same components which are contained in their retail products, but they are not used in a premixed formula but are nore individually controlled. This is what they say one their site:

We use a fertiliser that has been developed and optimised by Tropica's own biologists based on many years of research and experience. The nutrition solution is added to the water that flows constantly through all our greenhouses, and reaches every single plant. Tropica cultivates some of its plants completely submersed in large tanks, while others are cultivated emersed on tables with the pots containing mineral wool only under water. The nutrition content of the water is monitored and dosed electronically to ensure that the fertiliser balance remains constant.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Their nursery uses a much more sophisticated system than any hobbyist might. My impression is that they use the same components which are contained in their retail products, but they are not used in a premixed formula but are nore individually controlled. This is what they say one their site:

Tropical stuff

Yup. They use the same Potassium Nitrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, trace etc that any savvy planted tank keeper will use, as they use to make their TPN