Best fert?

jbrianchamberlin · 01-29-2010, 10:00 AM

I've got a well planted 75 gal tank and I use the flourish tabs. I had been using some liquid fert too but ran out at about the same time I started dosing with Flourish Excel. Things are good but I'm thinking I might need to add some liquid fert as well. I do have some java moss which doesn't root so the tabs aren't helpful to them. Any suggestions?

Sweet Tee · 01-29-2010, 10:07 AM

Though I'm not familiar with Flourish Excel, I do use reg. Flourish and Flourish NPK in my tank. Everything seems well with me dosing those. You basically need micro and macro nutrients for plants...these ferts that I use from the Flourish line do that. Maybe check out the Seachem site for what Excel includes and find what your missing.

I wish I knew more about Excel to give you a better answer!

jbrianchamberlin · 01-29-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Tee

Though I'm not familiar with Flourish Excel, I do use reg. Flourish and Flourish NPK in my tank. Everything seems well with me dosing those. You basically need micro and macro nutrients for plants...these ferts that I use from the Flourish line do that. Maybe check out the Seachem site for what Excel includes and find what your missing.

I wish I knew more about Excel to give you a better answer!

I'm under the impression the Flourish Excel is simply a liquid form of carbon. I don't think it provides any of the other nutrients.

Sweet Tee · 01-29-2010, 11:02 AM

Ahh...ok. Then you probably should look into dosing ferts. What's your lighting? My tank is low light, so I just dose once a week to keep excess nutrients away.

WhiteGloveAquatics · 01-29-2010, 11:21 AM

SusanKat has the place for dry ferts I believe, liquid is a waste of money, used em for about a year now I use the dry ferts ALOT cheaper and ALOT stronger then the watered down liquid ferts.

Also, mainly MTS snails leave something behind that fert tabs wish they could do. I got better root growth and plant growth using snail poop over tabs.

Sweet Tee · 01-29-2010, 11:29 AM

I'm actually checking out aqauriumfertilizer.com as we speak for dry ferts. I will eventually get to the point of using dry ferts too. With one 20 gallon tank, the Flourish is working out fine. Once I get more storage (aka a house and not a tiny apartment!!) I will buy dry ferts and possibly mix them in jugs for dispensing.

jbrianchamberlin · 01-29-2010, 11:41 AM

Well then maybe I'm good for awhile. I was just worried about the java moss but it seems to be doing okay so I'll leave it alone.

WhiteGloveAquatics · 01-29-2010, 11:51 AM

Sweet, I got a two bedroom with 4 people lol, I went and bought a free standing cabinet thing, takes up the useless corner and stores all my crap(extra smaller tanks, equipment food,chemicals,ferts ect.) I went from the tank stand to the closet thing, I also have a wheeled plastic tote that I keep the normally used stuff in to take directly to the tanks.

I got demon childs, they get into everything, even a zip tie over the handles of my closet isnt enough for my kids. Look an craigslist you can find tons of unwanted furniture for storage cheap or free.

Sweet Tee · 01-29-2010, 12:03 PM

LOL WhiteDevil! Well, any space I have right now needs to be vacant so I can store weddings gifts in a few months!

Haha, demon kids...

that's too funny. I'm avoiding craig's list at the moment because lately there have been many people in my area selling tank setups...I can't....I just can't. Tempting, but no. Maybe next year.

Sweet Tee · 01-29-2010, 12:04 PM

Oh, and not to mention my fiance is a musician...so his collection of guitars grows and grows....

WhiteGloveAquatics · 01-29-2010, 12:08 PM

I used to play, had like 15 axe's sold em all when I got married.

bah, ask for new tanks and parts for the wedding. I wish I could turn my house into a big tank and just live in a scuba suit. I got waterproof bags to store things in while living in the tank.

Seriously though, take it into consideration, I had no storage before now I got two extra shelves unless I store the tank towels there. I literally had to invest 40K into my house to gain storage, it sucked.

Dmaaaaax · 01-29-2010, 02:41 PM

Just to point out...Flourish root tabs is not the same as dry ferts. By dry ferts they mean Plantex CSM+B most likely. It is a powder that you add to distilled water then add as a liquid in most cases. It is basically Flourish minus some trace elements at about 1/4 the cost.

Flourish Excel is a Carbon additive to take the place of CO2. It is also known to kill/control some types of algae.

James0816 · 01-29-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Tee

I'm actually checking out aqauriumfertilizer.com as we speak for dry ferts.

Absolutely the way to go. Will save you quite a bit of money as well. Before getting into EI dosing, you can start out with their PMDD pre-mix.

Don't forget the Phosphates. ;o)

Sweet Tee · 01-29-2010, 05:39 PM

Is the PMDD mix for micro or macro nutrients??? I've been in a meeting most of the afternoon and can't think properly. Like is it the rough version of Flourish??? Then I would need to buy the NPK in dry form as well.

James0816 · 01-29-2010, 05:57 PM

Yep..the pre-mix has everything you need already measured out so there will be no adjusting.

Sweet Tee · 01-29-2010, 07:41 PM

So it's both micro and macro? If so that's awesome!

WhiteGloveAquatics · 01-29-2010, 07:43 PM

I am setting up an NPT tank as we speak while talking with DWalstad herself, I just asked about ferts, she uses fish food. thats it.
I think her method is why my crypts are huge.

beaslbob · 01-30-2010, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Tee

Oh, and not to mention my fiance is a musician...so his collection of guitars grows and grows....

FWIW we have a guy at work who used to play and bought a guitar back in '67 or so and paid $50 for it. Turns out it is a 1937 martin and he sold it recently for something like $20k or so.

On the plants I don't use any ferts except for peat moss in the substrate.

my .02

Sweet Tee · 01-30-2010, 04:17 PM

OMG beaslbob that's incredible! 20K!!!! I'm gonna tell my fiance that story.

I just use plain gravel in my tank...my next tanks will have soils. You live, you learn.

beaslbob · 01-30-2010, 06:19 PM

For a substrate I use 1" peat moss, 1" play sand, and 1" pro choice select (or aquarium gravel. In that order bottom to top.

01-29-2010, 10:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
jbrianchamberlin Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 237 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 34 Times in 31 Posts	Best fert? I've got a well planted 75 gal tank and I use the flourish tabs. I had been using some liquid fert too but ran out at about the same time I started dosing with Flourish Excel. Things are good but I'm thinking I might need to add some liquid fert as well. I do have some java moss which doesn't root so the tabs aren't helpful to them. Any suggestions?

01-29-2010, 10:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? Though I'm not familiar with Flourish Excel, I do use reg. Flourish and Flourish NPK in my tank. Everything seems well with me dosing those. You basically need micro and macro nutrients for plants...these ferts that I use from the Flourish line do that. Maybe check out the Seachem site for what Excel includes and find what your missing. I wish I knew more about Excel to give you a better answer!

01-29-2010, 11:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? Ahh...ok. Then you probably should look into dosing ferts. What's your lighting? My tank is low light, so I just dose once a week to keep excess nutrients away.

01-29-2010, 11:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,045 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 47 Times Was Thanked 392 Times in 368 Posts	Re: Best fert? SusanKat has the place for dry ferts I believe, liquid is a waste of money, used em for about a year now I use the dry ferts ALOT cheaper and ALOT stronger then the watered down liquid ferts. Also, mainly MTS snails leave something behind that fert tabs wish they could do. I got better root growth and plant growth using snail poop over tabs.

01-29-2010, 11:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? I'm actually checking out aqauriumfertilizer.com as we speak for dry ferts. I will eventually get to the point of using dry ferts too. With one 20 gallon tank, the Flourish is working out fine. Once I get more storage (aka a house and not a tiny apartment!!) I will buy dry ferts and possibly mix them in jugs for dispensing.

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01-29-2010, 11:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
jbrianchamberlin Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 237 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 34 Times in 31 Posts	Re: Best fert? Well then maybe I'm good for awhile. I was just worried about the java moss but it seems to be doing okay so I'll leave it alone.

01-29-2010, 11:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,045 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 47 Times Was Thanked 392 Times in 368 Posts	Re: Best fert? Sweet, I got a two bedroom with 4 people lol, I went and bought a free standing cabinet thing, takes up the useless corner and stores all my crap(extra smaller tanks, equipment food,chemicals,ferts ect.) I went from the tank stand to the closet thing, I also have a wheeled plastic tote that I keep the normally used stuff in to take directly to the tanks. I got demon childs, they get into everything, even a zip tie over the handles of my closet isnt enough for my kids. Look an craigslist you can find tons of unwanted furniture for storage cheap or free.

01-29-2010, 12:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? LOL WhiteDevil! Well, any space I have right now needs to be vacant so I can store weddings gifts in a few months! Haha, demon kids... that's too funny. I'm avoiding craig's list at the moment because lately there have been many people in my area selling tank setups...I can't....I just can't. Tempting, but no. Maybe next year.

01-29-2010, 12:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? Oh, and not to mention my fiance is a musician...so his collection of guitars grows and grows....

01-29-2010, 12:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,045 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 47 Times Was Thanked 392 Times in 368 Posts	Re: Best fert? I used to play, had like 15 axe's sold em all when I got married. bah, ask for new tanks and parts for the wedding. I wish I could turn my house into a big tank and just live in a scuba suit. I got waterproof bags to store things in while living in the tank. Seriously though, take it into consideration, I had no storage before now I got two extra shelves unless I store the tank towels there. I literally had to invest 40K into my house to gain storage, it sucked.

01-29-2010, 02:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dmaaaaax Dmaaaaax's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 756 Location: North Carolina Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 21 Times Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 181 Times in 153 Posts	Re: Best fert? Just to point out...Flourish root tabs is not the same as dry ferts. By dry ferts they mean Plantex CSM+B most likely. It is a powder that you add to distilled water then add as a liquid in most cases. It is basically Flourish minus some trace elements at about 1/4 the cost. Flourish Excel is a Carbon additive to take the place of CO2. It is also known to kill/control some types of algae. __________________ --->Pictures of my 75g Amazon tank<----

01-29-2010, 05:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? Is the PMDD mix for micro or macro nutrients??? I've been in a meeting most of the afternoon and can't think properly. Like is it the rough version of Flourish??? Then I would need to buy the NPK in dry form as well.

01-29-2010, 05:57 PM	#15 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,402 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 32 Times Was Thanked 507 Times in 438 Posts	Re: Best fert? Yep..the pre-mix has everything you need already measured out so there will be no adjusting.

01-29-2010, 07:41 PM	#16 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? So it's both micro and macro? If so that's awesome!

01-29-2010, 07:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,045 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 47 Times Was Thanked 392 Times in 368 Posts	Re: Best fert? I am setting up an NPT tank as we speak while talking with DWalstad herself, I just asked about ferts, she uses fish food. thats it. I think her method is why my crypts are huge.

01-30-2010, 04:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
Sweet Tee Sweet Tee's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 307 Location: Lafayette,Louisiana Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 73 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Best fert? OMG beaslbob that's incredible! 20K!!!! I'm gonna tell my fiance that story. I just use plain gravel in my tank...my next tanks will have soils. You live, you learn.

01-30-2010, 06:19 PM	#20 (permalink)
beaslbob beaslbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,912 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 312 Times Said "Thanks" 27 Times Was Thanked 719 Times in 646 Posts	Re: Best fert? For a substrate I use 1" peat moss, 1" play sand, and 1" pro choice select (or aquarium gravel. In that order bottom to top. __________________ fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

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