Fertilizers

[Kaneu]

So is this saying true when it comes to plants and ferts? "Less is more"?
I have a heavily planted tank 75g. And I am struggling with brown algae growing EVERYWHERE!
I talked to a few people who are good with planted tanks but wanted to ask this community. Could too much fertilizers cause a huge boom to algae growth? I have been using flourish and flourish advance. With added macro's when I see the defined deficiency.
I'm using co2 injection and lights on 8 hours.
Any tips to help me to reduce the amount of brown algae would be great.
Thanks

 

[splattered]

Less is more in aquaria in general - always! I do everything in increments. The algal bloom is to be expected til the tank balances out to where you want it. Don't panic it won't last once the plants catch up. If you really want quick results you can add fast growing weedy plants like water sprite or hornwort to out-compete the algae

 

[Kaneu]

I have those plants. And the tank has been up and running with heavy stocking of plants for 2 months.
So it makes me think that I am doing something that is feeding the algae.

 

[Bert2oo1]

I have those plants. And the tank has been up and running with heavy stocking of plants for 2 months.
So it makes me think that I am doing something that is feeding the algae.

I disagree with the statement above. In a high light aquarium u want a lot of ferts. Dosing flourish and flourish advance with preasurised co2 won't work. The nutrient content in those ferts is minimal and works better for low tech tanks. In a high lighting environment nutrients are used up extremely quickly. I've seen my tank use up to 10 TDS in 1 day (that's 10ppm of mixed fertilisers). That would be more than the amount dosed by flourish I'd imagine. I'd look into dry dosing. PPS pro if u have soft water or EI if you have hard water.

Pps pro https://sites.google.com/site/aquaticplantfertilizer/home/pps-pro

EI http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/show...e-Index-Fertilisation-(EI)-Quick-How-To-Guide

Dry salts can be brought here http://nilocg.com/dryfertilizer/

Or here http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html

 

[Kaneu]

I disagree with the statement above. In a high light aquarium u want a lot of ferts. Dosing flourish and flourish advance with preasurised co2 won't work. The nutrient content in those ferts is minimal and works better for low tech tanks. In a high lighting environment nutrients are used up extremely quickly. I've seen my tank use up to 10 TDS in 1 day (that's 10ppm of mixed fertilisers). That would be more than the amount dosed by flourish I'd imagine. I'd look into dry dosing. PPS pro if u have soft water or EI if you have hard water.

Pps pro https://sites.google.com/site/aquaticplantfertilizer/home/pps-pro

EI http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/show...e-Index-Fertilisation-(EI)-Quick-How-To-Guide

Dry salts can be brought here http://nilocg.com/dryfertilizer/

Or here http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html

So bert,
Are you saying that I'm not doseing enough?
I'll check out the links you sent me here soon. Thanks for the information.

 

[Bert2oo1]

So bert,
Are you saying that I'm not doseing enough?
I'll check out the links you sent me here soon. Thanks for the information.

Well it depends. Is your drop checker lime green all day? If it is then yea I'd say your under the mark. Seachem is good for low tech but high lighted aquariums need more

Diatoms are normal for a new tank also and does fade out over time but I think it would be beneficial to change to dry ferts. A lot cheaper and better results in my opinion

 

[Caliban07]

Well it depends. Is your drop checker lime green all day? If it is then yea I'd say your under the mark. Seachem is good for low tech but high lighted aquariums need more

This is true but it depends on the plants and plant mass too. Since my time experimenting I'm leaning towards the fact that ferts are what define a tank. Not lighting or co2 because you can have high light. Plants probably prefer higher light since we are well under natural PAR in an aquarium. The problem is uptake rates and not just by plants but all organisms within the tank. Uptake rates and requirements can leave you deficient in certain elements and it's virtually impossible to troubleshoot effectively. I can identify zinc and boron deficiencies, iron is easy also but if you have a multitude of deficiencies you need to go back to the drawing board. It's the micros that are key. The range between to little and too much is very small. The macros are easy enough. Precipitation is a real issue too. Especially in fert mixes that use weak chelates. Seachem is likely one of those.

 

[Funken_A]

Yes in a high light aquarium with full CO2 injection more is better... Under dosing a high light CO2 injection tanks means the the plants out grow the available nutrients. Once the nutrients are used up plants cant grown and then algae starts to win. Its better to have more than enough nutrients and CO2 (You can overdose CO2 but you can definitely have more than you think) The important part is adjustable light. With plenty of CO2 and nutrients you just have to find the sweet spot for your light intensity. This is a bit of process of touch and feel, and every tank is different.

Estimated Index is or EI is a popular fertilizing method. Basically provide plenty of CO2 and nutrients and do weekly 50% water changes.

I tried the less is more method and I had all kinds of algae issues.


Here is my write up on the front page from my TOTM WIn.. It includes my fertilizer schedule and info you might find useful

MAY 2017 TOTM | Funken_A - Aquarium Advice

 

[fishenthusiast]

The following article may be of help: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/introduction-fertilizing-planted-tank/

You mention that you have brown algae. How long has this tank been established? It may just be diatoms.

I recommend PPS-Pro if you ever convert to dry ferts. It is more lean and I've had success with it in high light and low light. In my opinion, and through experience, I feel that EI is just a waste. You'll get a large excess of nutrients at week's end, which means 50% water changes are required, or you'll run into problems. It is a nice regimen for many planted tank keepers though.

 

[Funken_A]

Nice thing about EI fertilizing and 50% weekly water changes is my house plants and container plants have never looked better.

I use to forget to water my plants all the time. Now on a weekly water change schedule I never forget, its part of my routine. And all those excess nutrients have my pants going bonkers

 

[splattered]

Right. I dump it in the garden too

 

[Bert2oo1]

Nice thing about EI fertilizing and 50% weekly water changes is my house plants and container plants have never looked better.

I use to forget to water my plants all the time. Now on a weekly water change schedule I never forget, its part of my routine. And all those excess nutrients have my pants going bonkers

Haha yes I dump 4 tanks worth of water into the front paddock and in the spot I put the hose the grass is 4x higher than the rest [emoji23]