Plant fertilizer?
- Thread starter Phil Fish
- Start date
I use Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium, to give it its full name as there are several different products under the "Flourish" name. The Comp is complete, and concentrated so you use/need very little. Another very much the same is Brightwell Aquatics' FlorinMulti. This one too is complete.
Floating plants (Water Sprite) generally fare better with a liquid fertilizer because they are very fast growing. But start minimally, as over use of these fertilizers can cause real algae issues.
Good plant growth is dependent upon a balance of light and nutrients.
Floating plants (Water Sprite) generally fare better with a liquid fertilizer because they are very fast growing. But start minimally, as over use of these fertilizers can cause real algae issues.
Good plant growth is dependent upon a balance of light and nutrients.
Great thanks! Yes I am learning about the balance of light and nutrients. I need to get a couple of timers for my lights.
Any other advice is appreciated! Thanks!
Flourish comp is more of a “micro mix” since the macro nutrient levels are very low, which is why they make separate bottles(e.g potassium, iron, trace). It’s not the best money wise, plus it’s very diluted. I use aquarium co-op’s easy green. It has all the required macros and micros(except iron), but is not as concentrated as Thrive, so perfect for low tech tanks(im not sure if they ship to canada?). Thrive by Nilocg is the best liquid fert you can buy, for around $20, it has all the nutrients you need, is much better than easy green and the seachem line(nutrient percentage wise).
All in all, flourish comp would be your best bet, since you don’t have many plants...see if you like planted tanks and their requirements, and if so, you can continue with more plants, and better equipment.
I’m curious - what lights and size tank do you have?
All in all, flourish comp would be your best bet, since you don’t have many plants...see if you like planted tanks and their requirements, and if so, you can continue with more plants, and better equipment.
I’m curious - what lights and size tank do you have?
Thanks for the info! I will look for fertilizer you mentioned. I have no idea about shipping but there are a few Canadian Aquarium supply retailers I could contact.
My tanks are 5.5 and 2.5 gallon and each have one Betta. The 5.5 has LED lights in the lid. The 2.5 right now has a 40 watt incandescent light over it. It has a DIY see through plastic lid as a tank cover. Should I use different lights?
No, you should be fine with your current lights.
What would be best? Thanks!
Ok I will get one. Thanks!
There are all sorts of light units and LEDs that do work dependant on plant set ups.
As already mentioned anything that is in the range of 6,500 to 8,000 K tends to work best for most plant species.
I personally have found T8’s (now most folks think as old type of light) but it’s a tried and tested light that works for the larger aquarium. For small to nano tanks I’ve found AquaEl leddy tubes really good for low tech set ups.
The length of time for the light to be on/off and natural daylight plays a large part too, for me in the south UK 7 to 7.5 hours worked for me but switching light on until AFTER noon, around 2pm do that the natural morning daylight played it’s part (not daylight directly into the tank of course, you’ll likely get untold algae issues if direct sunlight for any prolonged periods of tine) seemed to work for me.
And the addition of fertiliser do help but is not essential unless you are doing a more mid to high tech set up. I used both Tropica Specialised and Tropica Premium liquid fertiliser dosed once a week just after weekly water changes.
As already mentioned anything that is in the range of 6,500 to 8,000 K tends to work best for most plant species.
I personally have found T8’s (now most folks think as old type of light) but it’s a tried and tested light that works for the larger aquarium. For small to nano tanks I’ve found AquaEl leddy tubes really good for low tech set ups.
The length of time for the light to be on/off and natural daylight plays a large part too, for me in the south UK 7 to 7.5 hours worked for me but switching light on until AFTER noon, around 2pm do that the natural morning daylight played it’s part (not daylight directly into the tank of course, you’ll likely get untold algae issues if direct sunlight for any prolonged periods of tine) seemed to work for me.
And the addition of fertiliser do help but is not essential unless you are doing a more mid to high tech set up. I used both Tropica Specialised and Tropica Premium liquid fertiliser dosed once a week just after weekly water changes.
This thread is heading off in various directions, so it is time to give second thought re the fertilizer.
Nutrients occur from water changes, fish load/feeding and additives (if any are needed). The light must balance these combined nutrients.
Earlier comments about the macro nutrients in Flourish Comp being minimal is correct, but often this is of no consequence. Seachem purposely make the macros minimal because this product is intended, as the name suggests, to be a "supplement," not the total nutrient source. Without knowing the GH of your source water, and the fish load/feeding, plus the plant species/numbers, and then the light, we cannot accurately assess what may or may not be required.
So before you go off buying products that may not be your best choice, you should work out the other aspects.
Nutrients occur from water changes, fish load/feeding and additives (if any are needed). The light must balance these combined nutrients.
Earlier comments about the macro nutrients in Flourish Comp being minimal is correct, but often this is of no consequence. Seachem purposely make the macros minimal because this product is intended, as the name suggests, to be a "supplement," not the total nutrient source. Without knowing the GH of your source water, and the fish load/feeding, plus the plant species/numbers, and then the light, we cannot accurately assess what may or may not be required.
So before you go off buying products that may not be your best choice, you should work out the other aspects.
Ok that makes sense. Since both aquariums have one Betta fish each and they get fed minimally it was suggested to me to use a plant fertilizer since the bio-load won't be enough to provide nutrients to the plants. The GH of my water is about 30 ppm according to my test strips which for fresh water fish is in the acceptable range. Does this info help?
Thanks again!
Alliesten
Fish Fanatic
I use Nilocg Thrive for my all in one, and Seachem Flourish root tabs. They are working very well for me 
I use 1/2 a milliliter of Seachem Flourish comprehensive 2 times a week on this tank.
Tank 6 foot 100 gallon, 75% water change once a week and I never vacuum the substrate.
Stock
5 Betta females
30 Kuhli Loaches
Well over 100 Red Cherry shrimp
2 Mystery snails.
Unknown number of Malaysian trumpet snails
Tank 6 foot 100 gallon, 75% water change once a week and I never vacuum the substrate.
Stock
5 Betta females
30 Kuhli Loaches
Well over 100 Red Cherry shrimp
2 Mystery snails.
Unknown number of Malaysian trumpet snails
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