What Trace Are You Guys Using?

[jimbooo]

thats about it...

i'm back on full EI now and all's going swell.... i'm about to run out of csm+B and liquid iron and K ferts. i have been using the powder one day a week and liquid on the other day. remaining days are the nitrate and phosphate.

what trace are you guys using. i'll go with the majority vote..............

i have never known how much csm+b i should be putting in so i just chuck a teaspoon in one day a week.

all comments welcome

thanks Jimbooo.

 

[JamesC]

Tropica Plant Nutrition on Monday and Aqua Essentials trace mix on Wednesdays and Fridays. I would go 100% Tropica except I'd go through it at some rate so just to keep costs down I use AE's trace mix as well. Tom Barr's coming out with his own trace mix soon so when he does I'll go 100% with that.

James

 

[mlawson]

I use the trace mix from Aqua Essentials. I don't actually use EI yet, but am planning to in the future.

 

[jimbooo]

thanks guys i appreciate that. i definatly want a powder so AE trace is looking the most likley, any more of you out there??

no need to bust a gut, a 1 word reply with what you use is fine (not the most exciting thread i'm afraid.)

 

[SuperColey1]

I use Tropica PN Mon, Wed, Fri

Andy

 

[jesseoneill]

Seachem Flourish Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday

 

[Dave Spencer]

Tropica after a water change, AE powder for the rest of the week.

 

[zig]

In tanks that I care about I use Tropica plant nutrition, in tanks that I don't care to much I use CSM+B.

You probably could do half and half though like some of the guys here especially for a bigger tank or several tanks it adds up if dosing TPN all the time, but my preference would be TPN.

 

[jimbooo]

interesting i've never used TPN, i think i'll order AE trace powder and get some TPN for a treat..

why is TPN better out of interest?

 

[sophos9]

Flourish 3 x weekly, when its done will move over to AE Trace

 

[George Farmer]

Tropica for me too. I've been using for 6 months+ now and doubt I'll use any other trace. I appear to get better growth than trace powder and other off-the-shelf products, although I haven't carried out any controlled experiments to prove this.

FYI I'm setting up a tank for a client and we're using the '+' version that contains NP, so no need for KNO3 or KH2PO4. An ideal all-in-one fert for a heavily planted tank. Mind you it is lower light than most, but has pressurized CO2. Look out for a journal soon....

why is TPN better out of interest?

I've read that the composition is better i.e. the ratios of elements. I think their chelated agents are better too i.e. doesn't need to be kept in a fridge.

Perhaps Tom can chime in here. I know he uses it.

 

[jimbooo]

lol, you have "clients now".... are you following along the lines of Mr Barr.....

cheers for the input george, i'm tempted to go full TPN then. i'll take a look in the LFS over the weekend and see if they sell it. probably not but worth a try.

after following toms advice i have started adding phosphate to my tank again and the growth has gone mad. your fern has doubled it's leaf size in a week after reverting to full EI again. i now need to sort the trace out to keep things balanced as i keep choping and changing the dose and product i use.

one tsp nitrate and 1/8 tsp phosphate 3x a week seems right and i will maintain that pattern hence the question on trace's. my pearling is bordering on the ridiculous now, proper lemonade tank again, rather chuffed with it if i can say so myself...

thanks for the input everyone. (and have a good weekend)

 

[chr15_8]

ive been using AE trace along with the rest needed for EI

 

[George Farmer]

lol, you have "clients now".... are you following along the lines of Mr Barr.....

Ha, ha. Not quite, more as favours for colleagues etc. but I do ok out of it, as they do too.....

I'd like to do more but there simply aren't enough hours in the day. I drive 120 miles a day just to get to work and back! Then there's the wife, kids, dog, writing, forums, UKAPS.....

Glad you're having success with the tank. PO4 is your friend! I'm dosing 1ppm 3x per week even with 5ppm in my tap water.

For 180 litres you should dose approx 10ml Tropica Plant Nutrition 3x week on the off macro days. You could also add some K2SO4 to ensure you have good K. No need for extra Mg/Ca with your hard water.

If your LFS doesn't sell it, Aqua Essentials do, along with K2SO4.

 

[Maximumbob]

Ae is also changing the K2SO4 to power instead of granules.. even easier now!

ps I use AE trace, K2SO4. I havnt got the growth I need to add nitrate yet, and my tap PO4 is off the scale.

I am however, going to try TPN in my 60 litre to see how I get on.