So I am going to order some ferts this weekend and was wanting some advice or if anyone has any links for me to check out. So I currently have swords, hornwort, lots of creeping jenny, a val, and lots of pothos and philodendron in my hob filter. I also plan to add lots more plants slowly over time when I have the money. Its a low light no c02 tank. I would like to keep things simple and do EI dosing and just do a big water change as usual once a week. Would that be too much for a low tech tank? I also saw a product called thrive. Any one use this? If I do the EI how often should I dose a week and do I do the micros and macros the same day and the same amount? Any help is appreciated!!
Fertilizer Questions
- Thread starter Carrie1
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So I was just reading the plant article about ferts and it says low light tanks dont really need anything other than I forget but maybe it was potassium and iron and that seachems products would be fine? Is this true? Would the thrive I mentioned still be too much for low light? Sorry for all the questions! If I can save money and buy more plants instead I am all for it! ?
Fresh2o
Aquarium Advice Addict
Whether it is low or high light, plants will only use enough ferts needed for photosynthesis. EI for low light overkill? Maybe. The fert demand is less with a low light setup obviously. You might consider a PPS-Pro kit (Green Leaf Aquariums or Nilocg Aquatics) as it is a lesser concentrated variation of EI. I think PPS-Pro is simpler as you are adding the same solutions each day. With low light you might be fine with dosing 3-4x per week.
I've not used EI or ThriveS so I cannot comment on dosing rates.
IMO EI or PPS-Pro provides a less confusing and more comprehensive fert regimen than the separate liquid solutions (Seachem). Plus it is much more economical. I'm still using the same PPS-Pro kit for my 20g high tech tank that I purchased in DEC 2013.
I've not used EI or ThriveS so I cannot comment on dosing rates.
IMO EI or PPS-Pro provides a less confusing and more comprehensive fert regimen than the separate liquid solutions (Seachem). Plus it is much more economical. I'm still using the same PPS-Pro kit for my 20g high tech tank that I purchased in DEC 2013.
trkchezz
Aquarium Advice Freak
With low light, I'd just do thrive at maybe a half dose of what it recommends. Just have to find the balance for what will work to not get any algae.
Funken_A
Aquarium Advice Freak
EI dosing in a low tech tank is not really EI.... From what i read and researched those who do some sort of EI dosing in low tech setups are only doing very small ferts once maybe 2xs a week
The reason EI works for a high lighted Co2 injected tank is you have guaranteed that light and CO2 are not limiting factors and therefore fertilizers are your only limiting factor.
In a low tech that balance can still be found but its more touchy because you are not saturating light or CO2 so any extra ferts are going feed certain algae types
The reason EI works for a high lighted Co2 injected tank is you have guaranteed that light and CO2 are not limiting factors and therefore fertilizers are your only limiting factor.
In a low tech that balance can still be found but its more touchy because you are not saturating light or CO2 so any extra ferts are going feed certain algae types
Bert2oo1
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Excel is always good for abit of a boost in growth and to minimise algae. I don't use it myself unless zapping algae but if I had a low tech id use it [emoji106]
I can't remember exactly when I started (2-3 month range), but I'm down to 200ml of my first bottle. The DIY pps-pro comes with 2 packets each of micros and macros. I ordered an extra packet of each.
My tank is low tech and I dose excell every day with my ferts.
My tank is low tech and I dose excell every day with my ferts.
Bert2oo1
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I wouldn't recommend excel with vals. U can use it but in very small doses and work your way up. H2o2 is the alternative(I think) and is a lot cheaper as u mix it with water to make a solution.
H202 is peroxide. I was talking about glutaraldehyde its one of the ingredients in excel. So far from my research it seems people havent had many issues with it and it seems like the cheaper option. So I was wondering if anyone here has used it. Either way if I decide to use either I will start slow with the tank that has the val.
Thank you guys again for all the help! Im gonna look around at ferts and excel and get some ordered this weekend! Maybe try to order some more plants! I want some crypts! Ohh I have one more question I want a grassy type small plant that will be ok in low light...any suggestions? Would dwarf sag work? Or any others? Thanks again for all the help!!
Bert2oo1
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Dwarf sag, micro sword(liliaposis) and crypt parva can all carpet. Dwarf sag is closest to the grass look.
Stay away from hair grass, it can be grown in low light setup's but is very hard to grow in low tech and is certainly for the more advanced scapers.
fishenthusiast
Aquarium Advice Addict
Yep, PPS-Pro at normal recommended dosage 4x a week works just fine. I use pressurized CO2 though, so one without it could probably dose less with no problem. PPS-Pro all the way! In my opinion, EI is overkill for all tanks, high light and low light. Plus you have to do huge water changes, sometimes twice a week with EI.
