I have alot of non-green plants which do not color up nearly as well as they do in high nitrate tanks. They do best in low nitrate-high phosphate conditions which I couldn't do with El. Personally when I decided to go with dry ferts I researched both methods and I just saw no reason to dose excess when I could dose the same ferts in controlled amounts, which btw is better for the types of plants I keep IMO, and still ensure my plants have all the nutrients they need. I have mostly stem plants which you know draws ferts from the water and this method has produced excellent results.