Iron to low tech is like Co2 is to high tech.

[Stan510]

I like to make it as simple as possible. All aspects of aquarium keeping. Its why I won't ever go back to reef,it's not something that can be made simple and look great. Low price is part of simple.
I've seen many vids were dirted tanks kept up with Co2 tanks for weeks..and then the dirted started to slow as the dirt leached out from water changes. Its why I say low tech needs to stop with the big water changes. It took me near four years of hard core ( minus Co2) plant keeping after a brush with hard core plant keeping in the 1980's to low 1990's era.
Iron is the biggest game changer for low tech planted aquariums is what i learned and now teach.

 

[Stan510]

One more thought. Iron comes chelated. I wonder if that chelation doesn't also open up other micronutrients in your water to the plants? Its why I would think you don't need to add so many trace elements after using chelated iron.

 

[Stan510]

I changed the title to more like what my point is!..Shouldnt have used "vs".

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I must be the lickiest person on the face of the earth because I did the opposite of what I am reading in this thread for my plants. I have mostly low tech easy plants now, but I kept a CO2 added high light tank for a decade.

I have used mostly Tropica Ferts. I use Excel. In larger tanks I now use some Seachem stuff- mostly a bit of Ewuilibrium for heavilg pleanted tanks with snails and shimp as well as fish. My tanks are jungles. Most are planted with things from other tanks. I have one compacta sword for almost 20 years now. My anubias keep breaking the surface.

I change 50-65% of after weeks and then I add Excel and whatever ferts I use that specific tank. I loke plants for how they help filter the water and where they benefit the fish. But I have way to many tanks to plant them all and too little time for plants as opposed to fish.

I have had a few back and forths with Mr. Barr about 15 years back. I learned readin stuff from Karen Randall. My fovorite line from her went something like this, "If you can't grow any plant under 3 wpg, look for the reason else where."
https://www.sunkengardens.net/

 

[Stan510]

If you are using Co2,that puts you in high tech. Low techys I think just don't want the bother of cylinders and driving across town to keep them filled. But they do want the best they can get from dirted fertilized aquariums with plants and sure,the better the lighting the better the results too.
Sooner or later dirted soils run out...they get depleted. Iron would be the most important additive by then. Or,start over.