Seachem Florish safe for gold pleco and cardinal tetras

[janeywolf1]

Hi sorry to perhaps ask a silly question im
Really new to this. I’ve got aquanano now 60 and some baby gold plecos and cardinal tetras.
Half planted in plant substrate and aquascape etc. Two big air stones.
The fish shop said I need to feed the plants too, and when I went back today for a few things, I felt the girl serving me was inexperienced and just saw me as a tractional cost.

My question is, she gave me Seachem Florish and said use it once a week. IS IT SAFE FOR MY FISH ? I’m so scared I kill them.

Thanks everyone x

 

[MattW]

Can I ask what sort of plants you have? (A picture could help identify if you don't know) I doubt it would harm the fish as it's a plant fertilizer I belive. Just don't overdose on the amount and stick to once a week or even longer periods between dosing.

 

[MaloK]

I agree the quantity of fertilizer you should add is really relative to the quantity of plants and their grow rate.

 

[janeywolf1]

Hiya I can remember all their name, front middle and back ones. They are flourishing as planted in

Fluval Bio Stratum, A bioactive substrate which I was told was the best. The plants are doing well and growing well. But the lady said I also need to feed the plants. I think one plant has turned sick though in last 24hrs.​

 

[janeywolf1]

Hiya I can remember all their name, front middle and back ones. They are flourishing as planted in

Fluval Bio Stratum, A bioactive substrate which I was told was the best. The plants are doing well and growing well. But the lady said I also need to feed the plants. I think one plant has turned sick though in last 24hrs.​

 

[MuddyWaters]

When I set up my 75 gallon, I had read not to feed the new plants for a month or two. I couldn't stand waiting, so after a week I started feeding- not full dosing I had planned, but some. I got massive algae and fought it for months.

Based on my experience, I would wait and not feed the plants at all for awhile- at least a month. All this "depends" on different things, but plants don't die off overnight and they will typically do ok (depending on the plant) with what they get from the fish (and substrate if you used substrate good for plants) for awhile.

 

[MattW]

Hiya I can remember all their name, front middle and back ones. They are flourishing as planted in

Fluval Bio Stratum, A bioactive substrate which I was told was the best. The plants are doing well and growing well. But the lady said I also need to feed the plants. I think one plant has turned sick though in last 24hrs.​

Looks like a crypt to me the one in the centre. Did you recently add this plant? They are known to have a "crypt melt" Basically old growth dies off as the plant adjusts to your tank water parameters etc. New growth will follow quickly

 

[janeywolf1]

When I set up my 75 gallon, I had read not to feed the new plants for a month or two. I couldn't stand waiting, so after a week I started feeding- not full dosing I had planned, but some. I got massive algae and fought it for months.

Based on my experience, I would wait and not feed the plants at all for awhile- at least a month. All this "depends" on different things, but plants don't die off overnight and they will typically do ok (depending on the plant) with what they get from the fish (and substrate if you used substrate good for plants) for awhile.

Thanks so much that’s really helpful.

 

[MuddyWaters]

OH! If you have fluval stratum, I would wait to feed the plants if they are not floaters- give it at least a month. Fluval stratum has lots in it already that will feed them. In fact, you'll want to check the ammonia levels early on to make sure it doesn't get too high. The ammonia in the substrate will diminish over time, and will hopefully be eaten up by your plants, but can affect the fish negatively if you don't have enough plants to eat it all up.

 

[janeywolf1]

Thank you so much that’s really helpful. I check the water parameters regular and all
Ok at present, im paranoid though and a worrier. Thanks again

 

[janeywolf1]

Looks like a crypt to me the one in the centre. Did you recently add this plant? They are known to have a "crypt melt" Basically old growth dies off as the plant adjusts to your tank water parameters etc. New growth will follow quickly

Hi the one you are talking about perhaps isn’t sick then..: I will watch it: it was added 7-8 days ago. And only just last 24hrs gone like this. I’m bad with names so can’t remember. Thanks for sharing the info, really useful and helpful

 

[MattW]

A more in-depth answer to crypt melt

Hi the one you are talking about perhaps isn’t sick then..: I will watch it: it was added 7-8 days ago. And only just last 24hrs gone like this. I’m bad with names so can’t remember. Thanks for sharing the info, really useful and helpful

 

[Naughts]

If you were sold flourish comprehensive supplement for the planted aquarium, that is fine. If it was Flourish excel, be more careful as it could cause harm if overdosed.

Some plants primarily absorb nutrients through their leaves and flourish comprehensive (in the water) would meet that need. Other plants are primarily root feeders and your substrate will meet their needs. In a year or two the substrate will be depleted and you will need root tabs for the root feeders.

 

[janeywolf1]

If you were sold flourish comprehensive supplement for the planted aquarium, that is fine. If it was Flourish excel, be more careful as it could cause harm if overdosed.

Some plants primarily absorb nutrients through their leaves and flourish comprehensive (in the water) would meet that need. Other plants are primarily root feeders and your substrate will meet their needs. In a year or two the substrate will be depleted and you will need root tabs for the root feeders.

Hi thanks so much for the info on substrate timescales and root tabs, makes sense. It’s flourish. Pic below. Have a great day.

 

[Essjay]

That's the one that is fine, it's mainly trace elements that the plants can take up through their leaves.