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Ive been looking for a good substrate fert for a 90g tank.

I do dose with water column ferts but it isnt helping the melon swords (i knew this before buying them ... just figured id of got a substrate fert by now).

I cant use laterite or anything like that due to the peacocks.

The peacocks dont dig in the area of the swords, this is the drop off ground for the gravel. I do raise the plants so they arent buried about once a month.

Running about 3 wpg. (4 65 w 6700k pc)

The val, hygro, and crypts are all grwing really well. Just the melons are having probs, which is why i think i need a substrate fert.

Im looking for specific recommendations that do well with the melons. They are keeping their red color however are not growing taller or wider. For each leave that dies a new one replaces, so pretty much just sustaining itself.

Co2 is not an opton on this tank.

Thanks,

Bdadawg

Hi,
Along with the usual liquid ferts, they also make solid
fertilizers in the form of sticks, or tablets, or balls,
that you push into the gravel near the plant's roots.
Among others Tetramin makes them. They should be available
at your LFS.

One word of caution, if you use them don't try pulling them
out of the gravel later. To do so will release a large
amount of fertilizer into the water that can cause an
algae bloom. For small plants you don't need the entire
stick. Some folks will snip the sticks into 1/4s or 1/2s
and push them into the gravel, near the plants roots, at
the four points of the compass with the plant in the
center.

Frank


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

Hi,

I use fert balls, ans a Frank said i never use the whole ball in one place, i break them into forths and burry them in different places of the tank depending on the plants position, i only use one, and they last a while. Becareful as Frank allso said that during the gravel vacs you don't suck out the tab, BIG algae problem, been there, done that, have the t-shirt.