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I am rather new at planted aquariums but I have my first tank up and running (1.45w/gal), low-light plants and six inches of flourite. Five days in and so-far, so-good. I have read a few things - weekly water changes bring some nutrients and flourite and fish waste will provide yet more. What I do NOT know is how to test for nutrient gaps or how to regularly provide for what this regime doesn't provide. I'm purposefully not doing CO2 injection this year as I'm in a learning/keep-it-simple phase (perhaps will graduate up to high-light and CO2 next year). In short, what kind of testing should I be doing; where would I get such kits; and what kind of nutrient schedule should I implement? Thanks for any guidance -

I'm no help to your question but you must be a Stephen King fan...

Hi,
There are test kits for specific nitrients such as
potassium and others, but those kits are "high end," very
expensive, and not normally available in the local fish
stores.

Your best bet would be to use the information found in
this link, purchase the fertilizers from these folks,
and use according to instructions provided:

http://www.barrreport.com/estimative-index/62-estimative-index-dosing-no-need-test-kits.html

Frank


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

Frank: I skimmed that link and it looks like just the information that I was looking for. I'll read it more carefully this week-end. I appreciate the help you've given me yet again.

coheedandcambriarules: Not sure how You knew that I'm a Stephen King fan (perhaps you knew I live near Bangor, Maine?) but I am - he's a great man in our community up here in the sticks. I enjoy some of his writing too.

All from your user name: you must have read the dark tower series with a name like todash19.

Heh heh. I was just pulling your late. I did read (or, rather, listen to) the entire Dark Tower series on audiobook over a year's time. Very entertaining. Glad to meet a fellow fan -

Sorry for the typo - meant to say, pulling your leg.