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My tank is planted not to heavily yet though. And I recently upgraded to a 75 gal from a 45 gal. In my 45 gal my nitrates always ran between 10-20 now in my 75 gal they're only 5. My plants aren't looking to happy anymore so should I add fertilizer to it or will that even help?

zeketaz

If you use the wrong type of fertilizer or too much fertilizer you will be in more trouble before you started.

The plants could also be in "Shock" or "Stress" from the shift.

I would do more water changes to keep the water very fresh and only use the fertilizers at half strength, until the plants start to pick up.

Keith

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Hi,
In going from a 45 to a 75 gallon tank, the larger tank has not yet matured.
I would not be surprised seeing a lower Nitrate reading
in the larger tank as there is so much more water in
the larger tank, the nitrate reading would be diluted.

You don't say what kind of plants you moved from one tank
to the other. Plants, when uprooted and moved with in a
tank much less to a new tank with new substrate (or the
old substrate + more added) will all go through a period
of time in which they have to grow new roots and become
acclimated to their new environment. To do that they use
up their stored nutrients and many will wither to the point
where they appear nearly dead.
In your case you up rooted them, transfered them to a
new tank with a different quality substrate and changed
their lighting as well.
In the process of acclimation they will grow new roots,
and begin to sprout new and smaller leaves.
The addition of fertilizer during the acclimation period
could simply build up nutrients to the point at which
existing algae spores would take off and you would wind
up with a huge outbreak of algae as the plants are not
yet at the point where they could benefit from nutrients.
It is a fine line you would tread with that.
Too much and you will be harvesting algae.
As long as the plants are not spongy, soft, or mushy,
there is hope that they will recover.

Frank

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

Thank you keithgh and Frank for the quick response. It never crossed my mind that the nitrates would be diluted, but all my readings are slowly going back to normal

Good.
Glad we could help, or at least ease your mind.
Frank

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