FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Most of my planted tanks are low-light, I have nothing fancy or unusual in the way of plants.

Do most people use fertilizer, and if so how often? What is better...liquid, tabs, or a combination?

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

The type of fertilizer needed depends on the type of plants you have.

Some plants primarily extract nutrients from the water, some from their roots. So fert have to be given in such a way that the plant can use them, otherwise something else will.

In a low light tank there should be no need to use ferts. Without high light or Co2 pushing growth the plants should be able to get all their needs from the tank.

It 's all a balancing act. If your plants are doing ok now then just leave them be. To do otherwise is inviting algae problems.

Last edited by bensaf at 31-Oct-2004 09:10

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I _LIVE_ for low-light (mainly cause I like stirring the pot) I use ferts and CO2... even a low light set-up benefits from both, the _main_ point is to not try to make up for lack of light intensity with a longer photo-period (i.e. keep it to 9/10 hours of lights per day), then you won't have algae probs anyways.

I've been doing this since I cant remember (if I cared to count it would be about 4 years in my main tank), and apart from when I let the water quality slip once or twice, I've never had an algae "problem"... having fast growers like H. polysperma and H. difformis helps, and I _always_ "sacrifice" a portion of the rear glass to algae... let it have a little bit, and keep it in check, somewhere out of sight... it will co-operate and stay put, eating any excess nutrients that the "fast growing" higher plants don't... harmony in nature and all that

Not to step on any toes, but high CO2, with low light, is better than low-light alone, and for _ANY_ plant that is growing, especially like that, it needs ferts, at least for the trace elements....

So long as you're doing reg water changes (which, I know you do, cause you're Theresa) you'll never have a problem.

One final word of advice: if the ferts have no phosphates in them, then that becomes the limiting factor for all plant growth, and since higher plants are better at sucking it up than base algaes, they will always win out in the end

Dex

EDIT: LOL, forgot I was in 'ween colors still... I fert daily, liquid drops as per directions on the bottle, I will do some substrate tabs/sticks once I go more hardcore on the crypts tho...

Last edited by dextroze at 31-Oct-2004 09:59

Theresa_M

I dont think you would consider my tank low light anyway.
I use a locally made liquid fert at the rate of 2.5ml twice a week.

I also have 99% Anubias in my tank and this system seems to be ideal. I still get the green algae on the top glass, far less than when I was using the fert 2.5ml every day.


Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Hi,
Interesting replies by all. For my two cents...

I do not advocate the use of ferts unless or until
the plants call for it.
Depending upon the plant and fish population of the
tank, you may not need ferts, and to provide it can
set the table for algae to thrive. In many cases
the simple act of feeding and excretion by the fish
along with any decaying plant material and the bacterial
colonies in the tank, will take care of the plants
nutrient needs.

Check out this site for the symptoms:
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nutrient.htm

As was mentioned, some plants draw their nutrients
heavily from the water, while others depend upon their
root systems. If you have "root feeders" then using
liquid ferts is foolish. Conversely, if you have
large amounts of other plants, plant tablets or sticks
are foolish.

As is frequently the case, there is not always ONE
fool proof answer to many of the questions asked.
In many cases the answer lies in a balance of
possiblities.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

What plants do you have in there ?

Anubias are root feeders but don't add root tabs/sticks unless you're sure they're needed..

The cheapest is Jobes Plant Food Spikes from almost any store, way cheaper than anything at the LFS.
Good luck !

The Amazon Nut...