fertilser?

[Katchan]

have checked out the type's my local fish shops have and the seem rather expensive for the amount they do $15AUD for 470 gallons, might be ok for a 40 gallon tank but when running MTS with ALL of them planted I'f go through them fairly quick.

Does anybody have or know of a good homemade or whatever aquarium fertiliser?

Katchan

 

[George Farmer]

Dry ferts are the cheapest option.

It really depends on what your lighting/CO2 levels are as to whether you need to dose with macro and/or micronutrients.

Generally if your lighting is less than 2 WPG with no CO2 then you'll only need micros in which case Plantex CSM+B is very cheap, you can buy it from here http/www.gregwatson.com/DryAquaticFertilizers.asp - they ship to Oz I'm sure - 1lb will last you ages, believe me. However if you're not planted heavily, you may get away with doing water changes and feeding your fish to supply enough nutrients.

If you have 2 WPG or more with CO2 then read this - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=104737

 

[Ryukin]

Dry ferts are the cheapest option.

It really depends on what your lighting/CO2 levels are as to whether you need to dose with macro and/or micronutrients.

Generally if your lighting is less than 2 WPG with no CO2 then you'll only need micros in which case Plantex CSM+B is very cheap, you can buy it from here http/www.gregwatson.com/DryAquaticFertilizers.asp - they ship to Oz I'm sure - 1lb will last you ages, believe me. However if you're not planted heavily, you may get away with doing water changes and feeding your fish to supply enough nutrients.

If you have 2 WPG or more with CO2 then read this - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=104737

[snapback]881126[/snapback]​

Hi, I'm new to this forum. How does the Plantex CSM+B work? Do I just mix with water and put it into the tank?

 

[zig]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. How does the Plantex CSM+B work? Do I just mix with water and put it into the tank?

Welcome to the forum

Plantex CSM+B is a trace mix, it comes in a dry powder form that you would make up into a solution, basically it contains micro nutrients very similar to a general liquid fertiliser that you would normally buy in a shop, but the plantex would probably be a couple of dozen times cheaper than the equivelant shop bought fertiliser.

You mix two level tablespoons of the plantex with 500ml of preferably RO or distilled water, and then to dose you would use 5ml 3x per week for each 20 US gallons, the above doseage would be for high light tanks, if you have less light you would dose less, but it also depends on the biomass or density of plants you have in your tank as to how much you would need to dose.

 

[Ryukin]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. How does the Plantex CSM+B work? Do I just mix with water and put it into the tank?

Welcome to the forum

Plantex CSM+B is a trace mix, it comes in a dry powder form that you would make up into a solution, basically it contains micro nutrients very similar to a general liquid fertiliser that you would normally buy in a shop, but the plantex would probably be a couple of dozen times cheaper than the equivelant shop bought fertiliser.

You mix two level tablespoons of the plantex with 500ml of preferably RO or distilled water, and then to dose you would use 5ml 3x per week for each 20 US gallons, the above doseage would be for high light tanks, if you have less light you would dose less, but it also depends on the biomass or density of plants you have in your tank as to how much you would need to dose.

[snapback]881482[/snapback]​

Thanks for the detailed explanation. It is not that difficult at all. I have 100g, 18"H, 64"L and 24"W acrylic with 2 - 48", 40W Coralife Nutri Grow bulbs, 3 anubias nana, a few java fern and I'm looking to add java moss in the near future. The tank is for goldfish only. I believe my water pH is around 8. I'm thinking about building a CO2 system. Does the Plantex dry fertilizer perform to the CO2 level? Is the plantex better than the CO2?

 

[George Farmer]

Does the Plantex dry fertilizer perform to the CO2 level? Is the plantex better than the CO2?

[snapback]881989[/snapback]​

One is not "better" than the other but acheiving good CO2 levels should be a higher priority than dosing a fert such as Plantex.

Plants are made from almost 50% carbon and so need it more than any other nutrient, the easiest way for plants to obtain carbon is via carbon dioxide (CO2).

CO2 injection increases growth rate, especially when combined with high lighting levels. Ferts. are then necessary to keep the plants sufficiently fed.

 

[Nospherith]

Does the Plantex dry fertilizer perform to the CO2 level? Is the plantex better than the CO2?

[snapback]881989[/snapback]​

One is not "better" than the other but acheiving good CO2 levels should be a higher priority than dosing a fert such as Plantex.

Plants are made from almost 50% carbon and so need it more than any other nutrient, the easiest way for plants to obtain carbon is via carbon dioxide (CO2).

CO2 injection increases growth rate, especially when combined with high lighting levels. Ferts. are then necessary to keep the plants sufficiently fed.

[snapback]882166[/snapback]​

That's good stuff, thanks gf225.