Fertilizers and substrates safe for inverts - Aquarium Advice

fishb0ne · 09-04-2007, 04:27 PM

I'm looking at substrates such as Flourite, Eco Complete and fertilizers such as Flourish, but since these all contain trace elements such as iron, are they safe for invertebrates such as shrimp and snails in an aquarium? I've got malaysian trumpet snails, a couple of bamboo shrimp and some other miscelaneous rounded, turbo-like snails.
Right now as a substrate I'm using pool filter sand, low-light plants but their growth is significantly stunted. I'm trying to fix that witout disturbing the inhabitants. What products would be safe?

MyCatsDrool · 09-04-2007, 04:29 PM

I am using flourish with no problems for my shrimp and snails. I also have some eco mixed in.

Most planted substrates are fine for inverts. Iron isn't a problem for them...copper is.

fishb0ne · 09-04-2007, 04:37 PM

Ah! In that sense then, I should stay away from Flourish since it contains copper, and use Flourish Excel instead.

theotheragentm · 09-04-2007, 04:41 PM

Flourish shouldn't be a problem either. I use it. My shrimp and snails seem to be fine.

MyCatsDrool · 09-04-2007, 04:42 PM

yah, never had a problem with flourish....

fishb0ne · 09-04-2007, 04:46 PM

Eco Complete can be applied directly in the tank without having another substrate on top of it, like gravel, right?
I might transfer my 10g in another 10g with Eco Complete but wanted to make sure I'm starting out right.
I'd basically set the substrate, plant, transfer the water, rocks etc from my existing tank and finally the fish, shrimp, etc.

SparKy697 · 09-04-2007, 10:38 PM

My invert tank has nothing but eco in it and everybody has been doing quite well for months.

MyCatsDrool · 09-04-2007, 10:56 PM

when you use a substrate for planted tanks, don't plan to layer it. You will end up mixing the gravel and the planted substrate. It is inevitable. If you don't mix it by planting and cleaning and such, your fish/snails/shrimps will mix it for you.

I sometimes use mixes of planted subs with pfs. I like sand a lot.

fishb0ne · 09-08-2007, 02:43 PM

How about Tetra's FloraPride?
I looked on the back and it doesn't mention any copper.
Hmm, now that I think about it, it managed to melt my anacharis in the past.

09-04-2007, 04:27 PM	#1
fishb0ne Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 179	Fertilizers and substrates safe for inverts I'm looking at substrates such as Flourite, Eco Complete and fertilizers such as Flourish, but since these all contain trace elements such as iron, are they safe for invertebrates such as shrimp and snails in an aquarium? I've got malaysian trumpet snails, a couple of bamboo shrimp and some other miscelaneous rounded, turbo-like snails. Right now as a substrate I'm using pool filter sand, low-light plants but their growth is significantly stunted. I'm trying to fix that witout disturbing the inhabitants. What products would be safe? __________________ My YouTube aquaria videos

09-04-2007, 04:29 PM	#2
MyCatsDrool Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 857	I am using flourish with no problems for my shrimp and snails. I also have some eco mixed in. Most planted substrates are fine for inverts. Iron isn't a problem for them...copper is. __________________ Watch our thread! A MyCatsDrool and Travis Simonson Joint Production....55 Tanganyikan Tank. It is hidden in the photography showcase. It is really my tank, but Trav is helping and we live next door from each other...so.... CCTV Has shut its doors. Off the air. 5.5 gal ADA rimless cube, fully planted, killifish breeder. coming soon to a forum near you. It's called Sex Panther, by Odeon. Illegal in 9 countries. Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.

09-04-2007, 04:37 PM	#3
fishb0ne Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 179	Ah! In that sense then, I should stay away from Flourish since it contains copper, and use Flourish Excel instead. __________________ My YouTube aquaria videos

09-04-2007, 04:41 PM	#4
theotheragentm Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,177	Flourish shouldn't be a problem either. I use it. My shrimp and snails seem to be fine. __________________ Box of Water - My Personal Musing and Photos on Fish Keeping

09-04-2007, 04:42 PM	#5
MyCatsDrool Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 857	yah, never had a problem with flourish.... __________________ Watch our thread! A MyCatsDrool and Travis Simonson Joint Production....55 Tanganyikan Tank. It is hidden in the photography showcase. It is really my tank, but Trav is helping and we live next door from each other...so.... CCTV Has shut its doors. Off the air. 5.5 gal ADA rimless cube, fully planted, killifish breeder. coming soon to a forum near you. It's called Sex Panther, by Odeon. Illegal in 9 countries. Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.

09-04-2007, 04:46 PM	#6
fishb0ne Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 179	Eco Complete can be applied directly in the tank without having another substrate on top of it, like gravel, right? I might transfer my 10g in another 10g with Eco Complete but wanted to make sure I'm starting out right. I'd basically set the substrate, plant, transfer the water, rocks etc from my existing tank and finally the fish, shrimp, etc. __________________ My YouTube aquaria videos

09-04-2007, 10:38 PM	#7
SparKy697 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 1,240 Images: 3	My invert tank has nothing but eco in it and everybody has been doing quite well for months. __________________ -Joe Click "My Info" for tank information. My 55g Tank Log Read About The Nitrogen Cycle Read About The Fishless Cycle

09-04-2007, 10:56 PM	#8
MyCatsDrool Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 857	when you use a substrate for planted tanks, don't plan to layer it. You will end up mixing the gravel and the planted substrate. It is inevitable. If you don't mix it by planting and cleaning and such, your fish/snails/shrimps will mix it for you. I sometimes use mixes of planted subs with pfs. I like sand a lot. __________________ Watch our thread! A MyCatsDrool and Travis Simonson Joint Production....55 Tanganyikan Tank. It is hidden in the photography showcase. It is really my tank, but Trav is helping and we live next door from each other...so.... CCTV Has shut its doors. Off the air. 5.5 gal ADA rimless cube, fully planted, killifish breeder. coming soon to a forum near you. It's called Sex Panther, by Odeon. Illegal in 9 countries. Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.

09-08-2007, 02:43 PM	#9
fishb0ne Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 179	How about Tetra's FloraPride? I looked on the back and it doesn't mention any copper. Hmm, now that I think about it, it managed to melt my anacharis in the past. __________________ My YouTube aquaria videos

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