Cheap Fert Alternatives
Hello jlk...
Before my large, planted tanks became became a bit overstocked, I used liquid hydroponics fertilizers. They're specifically for growing nonaquatic plants without the use of soil.
However, the liquids are organic and excellent for plants in general. A company by the name of "Earth Juice" makes them. I used to dose in very small amounts because of the potency and a good sized bottle that cost about $13.00 at the time, lasted about three months, and I was dosing six tanks. Pretty inexpensive for a liquid fert that's easy to dose. I just added a little to my water change water every week. I did stop using the chemical (carbon) media in my tanks when I started using the liquid, just in case the media affected the fert. But, if you replace half the water in your tanks weekly, then IMO, you don't need the carbon. The water changes will remove much more dissolved substances than carbon media.
Might be worth a look on the internet. Liquids can be inexpensive, if you do your homework.
B
