Ferts Advice

[elmo666]

Hi. New 300ltr set up now happily ticking over with all occupants from their old home. Have pressurized co2, Aqua gro nutra soil substrate, various circulating pumps and two externals, one standard set up, the other peat and very fine wool for water polishing. I have the majority of the co2 going into the uplift to one external to increase absorption. Surface ripple is kept to a minimum. Been following the tropica app that advices no ferts for first 4 weeks.
Ok, what I'm wanting to know is do I have to have a good knowledge of this estimative index system, with macro, micro and trace elements to fertilize and grow my plants effectively, or will something like aqua gro nutrafeed be effective? My water changes are done twice weekly, 50ltrs at a time, with r/o corrected with pro discus mineral.
Note: Just discovered my ph has been 5 to 5.5 without me knowing it. Made the mistake of relying on my co2 drop checker too much! Turns out my r/o is running a little over 5. Corrected it two ways: bi-carb in tank over 2 days, now at 6.4. I have a triple pod carbon filter I have now used to use mains water to adjust the r/o to the same level.
so ready to fert soon, would really appreciate some advice on simple way forward. By the way, no demanding plants, mainly anubias, various swords, java fern, aponogetins, crypts etc. Thanks.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Nutra Feed will be fine (although ridiculously overpriced) - Be prepared to go a way above the bottle dosage to support growth

 

[elmo666]

Thanks for the reply.......beginning to think I was all alone, don't know if I wrap my posts up in complexity but don't get many replies comparative to views. You're right about the price, especially if you have to overdose as you suggest. Last year I used more basic ferts. I have powdered ferts off eBay, lush max. But on further reading they suggest separate macro, micro and trace dosing. Thing is, as I said, not familiar with E.I. And if that system relies on large water changes that's not a route I can go, I do 100 ltrs a week now and don't want to increase that. That said those powdered ferts seem great value, £5 makes up 2 ltrs, you dose at 5ml 3 times weekly on average.
Back in the day when I had bubble up corner filters, gro-lux tube, dechlorinator and a net the plants grew thick and fast. Look at any lfs shelf now, the choice if chemicals for water parameters, fertilization, treatment etc is mind boggling, maybe me thinks we overdo it.....and I'm probably the worst culprit!! Hey ho ��

 

[shrimply]

I'd say you don't really need to understand EI, it will help greatly and I wish that I could get around to fully educating myself.
 
My personal advice, would be to look at buying the individual chemicals for EI and mixing up your own DIY tropica+ solution ( use number 3)
http/theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm
 
My tank is all set up for high tech but I got very lazy, now I seem to have struck a happy medium.  No Co2, the tank gets 8 hours of light from a single T8 tube, and full 110W of T5 lighting for 2 hours of this.  And I dose maybe 5ml of  the all in one solution 3 or 4 times a week ( not going to lie, I basically chuck it in when I remember probably a sure fire way to get algae but I've been OK so far)
 
The benefit of mixing your own is that you have all the individual components on hand, if you see a particular deficiency you can adjust the formula without going out and buying a whole new fertiliser.   It also works out a lot cheaper in the long run.
 
Not sure if that is helpful or not.
 
To demonstrate the fill circle here is my journal for the tank
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/301340-darrens-disaster-journal-homeland/
And pictures of the tank as it stands today
 

 

 
It's not the best, it probably breaks all the aquascaping rules but I don't think it looks bad, and it's much less hassle than it was when it was high tech.

 

[elmo666]

Thanks, good to hear an honest reflection lol. Aquascaping "rules" are just that, to restrictive on self expression. What is pleasing to one mans eye won't please all. I personally are not a conformist, I do what looks aesthetically pleasing to me and allows each plant to get the right location / light. I want success with both my discus and plants together, complementing each other, but I don't want to get fanatical or put in place a maintenance regime that spoils the enjoyment. Thanks for your input. "Food" for thought lol