What fertilizers are compatible with shrimp?

[gobluewolverines4]

Obviously I can't use anything with copper. And I don't wanna dirty my tank, any suggestions?

 

[jetajockey]

The amount of copper in commercial fertilizers is only trace, nothing to worry about.

 

[gobluewolverines4]

I just want something with zero copper. No chances.

 

[jetajockey]

Copper is an essential element even for inverts, and its totally fine in trace amounts. I know many including myself who dose ferts with inverts and no issues.

I'm not sure if they make any completely copper free commercial fert mixes.

 

[tukker]

It is to worry about. I did use with coppers and gone were my shrimp. Use CO2 as fertilizer, and direct sunlight

 

[cheeky_monkey]

I've used flourish excel in my shrimp tank with no ill effects.

 

[jetajockey]

It is to worry about. I did use with coppers and gone were my shrimp. Use CO2 as fertilizer, and direct sunlight

I would look into something else as the problem besides the trace amounts of copper in commercial ferts. Like I said, tons of people use them with no problems including myself and plenty of other people on here and elsewhere, if it were a copper issue we'd all have dead shrimp.

Plants need more than co2 and sunlight.

If it's a low tech tank you can probably get by without dosing any micromix at all, so that's another viable option if the copper thing is a problem.

 

[tukker]

It was the copper, tried it couple of times on some shrimp, im u. The Netherlands, maybe rules and compositions or ferts are different

 

[jetajockey]

It was the copper, tried it couple of times on some shrimp, im u. The Netherlands, maybe rules and compositions or ferts are different

It could be. Source water can play a large factor as well. I know some people who have had issues because they have old piping in their house.

I've been breeding shrimp for years here and using commercial ferts like flourish and csm+b without any problem at all, the plants utilize the micronutrients, so between that and regular water changes it doesn't have a chance to build up. Everyone makes the connection that copper kills inverts but copper is still an essential element to inverts also, they just can't handle high levels of it.

 

[gobluewolverines4]

It could be. Source water can play a large factor as well. I know some people who have had issues because they have old piping in their house.

I've been breeding shrimp for years here and using commercial ferts like flourish and csm+b without any problem at all, the plants utilize the micronutrients, so between that and regular water changes it doesn't have a chance to build up. Everyone makes the connection that copper kills inverts but copper is still an essential element to inverts also, they just can't handle high levels of it.

So seachem flourish is a good idea? I don't even know if I need it.. my java moss is growing so fast!

 

[jetajockey]

I wouldn't worry about it if all is well, no use fixing what aint broken.