Alternative to flourish excel?

I am trying to get a Jungle Val to grow and I'm having no luck. I also have anubias nana and java fern in the tank, but they are doing great. I have some root tabs in the sand substrate, and typically dose with flourish excel. In my research I've found that the flourish could be contributing to the jungle val not doing well. Is flourish excel harmful to jungle val? If so, is there another that would work better for all three types of plants? I've been reading some good things about Thrive C. Is this a better brand to go with?

 

Hi Gabray.

API leaf zone is a great product. Use it for my tank and starting to see some reds in my bacopa

if your Java fern n Anubias are doing well and the jungle nana is not, is probably a substrate issue as I know the same thing happened with my rotala at the start… substrate wasn’t deep enough! How deep is the sand? Maybe you could add a extra layer of gravel on top of the sand to anchor the roots more and provide a deeper substrate for the roots to spread?

 

I’ll echo that a bit. I could not grow Val’s in my sand tanks at all. They tried but would just rot away, in my gravel tanks I can’t stop them, they take over. I use thrive complete all in one fert suppose to be every three days I do once a weekish. I also spot dose with flourish Excel for the carbon substitute, and BB algae does not like it. in a couple of tanks with lots of red plants I use a little flourish iron as well. GL !

 

I have vals growing like weeds in Black Diamond Blasting Sand and Thrive root tabs. Water is hard as rock with a ph of 8.2.

 

I have vals growing like weeds in Black Diamond Blasting Sand and Thrive root tabs. Water is hard as rock with a ph of 8.2.

I have 8.2 rock water also but since I switched to sand substrate my Vals have diminished greatly. They just rot at the base. Im in the Vals in gravel do awesome club. I do need to try adding root tabs though.

 

Im in the Vals in gravel do awesome club.

Unless they’re in my tank.

 

I am trying to get a Jungle Val to grow and I'm having no luck. I also have anubias nana and java fern in the tank, but they are doing great. I have some root tabs in the sand substrate, and typically dose with flourish excel. In my research I've found that the flourish could be contributing to the jungle val not doing well. Is flourish excel harmful to jungle val? If so, is there another that would work better for all three types of plants? I've been reading some good things about Thrive C. Is this a better brand to go with?

Yes Vals are known to be sensitive to Excel. You do know it is not a fertilizer? I use the Thrive C it is a good all in one fert.