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	plant fertilizer - I made a big mistake :(
mr gudgeon Small Fry Posts: 13 Kudos: 15 Votes: 1 Registered: 26-Feb-2005	In my never ending quest to make my 20gal tank really hum, I bought some root fertilizer tabs to put at the base (in the substrate) of my plants as they were starting to lose leaves due to (I believe potasium deficiency and others). I checked my nitrate levels on Monday and they were off the chart. So after 21 litre water change I double check the fert tabs container , and there before me it implies it is for ponds No wonder my nitrates are off the planet. What should I do to fix this mess? Tomorrow I will change water again, and somehow get the fert out of my aquarium./ Any help appreciated.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
bensaf Fish Master Posts: 1978 Kudos: 1315 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	I'm not familiar with pond tabs, but certainly tabs for terrestial plants are unsuitable for aquariums as they are loaded with Nitrate and phosphate. I would assume the pond tabs probably have higher concentrations of both than an aquarium tab. You are on the right track with water changes. The other thing you can do if you can hold of some quickly is drop some Hornwort in there to help suck up the Nitrates even quicker. Try not to stir up the gravel too much and risk leeching more of the fert into the water column. Hope it works out. 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.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
jasonpisani Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	Maybe you can get some floating plants & they'll suck up the Nitrates. Water changes will help you aswell. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.deathbydyeing.org/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Hi, Next time, snip the sticks into 1/2s or 1/4s and use them. In a 20G tank one or two would have been enough. I'm not sure of the fertilizer ratio with a pond stick vs an aquarium stick, they are probably different. However the same principle applies, don't use a whole stick for each plant in a small tank. Generally you snip them as above, and stuff the pieces into the gravel at each major point of the compass (N/S/E/W) around a large plant such as a sword. The pieces should not be stuffed into the gravel near the crown but rather out from the base of the plant. They are not for use in tanks with a lot of small plants, once an individual plant gets large, say 5 inches or higher, or an inch across, then I would start using the sticks or tablets. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19
mr gudgeon Small Fry Posts: 13 Kudos: 15 Votes: 1 Registered: 26-Feb-2005	thanks for your replies Last edited by mr gudgeon at 03-May-2005 18:47
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:19


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