Which Fertilizer To Use?

Hello all,

I am looking for all of your opinions on a good fertilizer to use for my planted aquarium. So far, what I understand is that Seachem Flourish does not provide a lot of the macro nutrients, though right now it is what I am primarily using -along with Flourish tabs. My confusion comes in with the current bioload and how much it (theoretically) provides to the macronutrients needed for the plants, and whether additional/different ferts would be better suited.

The tank is a CO2-injected tank with a healthy level of CO2. CO2 was added as I was seeing little to no plant growth and it has helped substantially. I have posted the specs of my tank below but would love some feedback. The tank is still in its first few months, though its cycle has become pretty stable and the fish are all doing very well. Thanks so much in advance for your time!

10g tank
Lighting: Nicrew LED @6500k
Substrate: Seachem Black Flourite
Fish: 1 Beta, 9 Neon Tetras, 3 Otocinclus Catfish
Plants: Foreground: Dwarf Baby Tears, Midground: Dwarf Hairgrass, Background Roundleaf Lindernia, Floating: Frog Bit and Duckweed
Current Ferts: Seachem Flourish 1 dose/week, Seachem Flourish tabs
CO2: Yes




-Ryan

 

One squirt of thrive 1-2X a week would push it right along.( and the bottle will last you a while if that’s the only tank your feeding plants) I don’t run co2 but I use thrive and it’s helped tremendously in all my planted tanks.

 

One squirt of thrive 1-2X a week would push it right along.( and the bottle will last you a while if that’s the only tank your feeding plants) I don’t run co2 but I use thrive and it’s helped tremendously in all my planted tanks.

Much appreciated, I'll look into getting some. I've done a little bit more reading and it turns out that fish waste only produces Nitrogen and phosphorus but not Potassium so I'm considering buying the Seachem NPK pack and potentially playing with the ratios a bit if necessary. Though nothing I have found yet speaks to how much a bioload actually contributes, just that it does. Perhaps I'm overthinking it all.

 

Much appreciated, I'll look into getting some. I've done a little bit more reading and it turns out that fish waste only produces Nitrogen and phosphorus but not Potassium so I'm considering buying the Seachem NPK pack and potentially playing with the ratios a bit if necessary. Though nothing I have found yet speaks to how much a bioload actually contributes, just that it does. Perhaps I'm overthinking it all.

I believe Thrive also makes dry ferts. The all in one liquid is honestly the easiest way. But there is much more science to planted tanks . So I chose the good lighting frequent WC’s and Thrive as my go to for my own success here are almost all of my non-co2 planted tanks. They’ve all been running over a year with a couple going over 2 years. PS if bioload plays a role which we know it does then that is another reason for my success with my heavily stocked tanks sorry for photobombing your thread

 

I believe Thrive also makes dry ferts. The all in one liquid is honestly the easiest way. But there is much more science to planted tanks . So I chose the good lighting frequent WC’s and Thrive as my go to for my own success here are almost all of my non-co2 planted tanks. They’ve all been running over a year with a couple going over 2 years. PS if bioload plays a role which we know it does then that is another reason for my success with my heavily stocked tanks sorry for photobombing your thread

Thanks again for the info, and no worries, I appreciate the share! Beautiful tanks!

 

Thanks again for the info, and no worries, I appreciate the share! Beautiful tanks!

Thanks!! and your welcome glad I could help!!

 

I started with Flourish comprehensive as well. Basically because it was recommended on this forum when I was reading about ferts! I then read more and started adding potassium and iron. And finally, I started using nitrogen and phosphorus (those were the ferts that made me the most nervous for the safety of the fish so it took a while for me to get those!)

(I am new to aquariums, this is my first tank which was set up just after Christmas).

I do like the idea of Thrive as an all in one, and may switch once the Seachem products are used up. However, the advantage of all the separate bottles of the Seachem is I can adjust what is needed. My hygrophila was getting a lot of holes in the leaves, which has improved by dosing potassium 3 times a week. With an all in one, I couldn’t increase the potassium without increasing everything else.

But yes, it’s a lot of separate bottles and I dose something most days!

I did order the thrive root caps instead of the Seachem root tabs last time I needed some.

My tank is different than yours though. It’s low light (stock LED) and I do not use CO2.

 

if I use thrive C and don't do 30% water change.What will be happen to the tank? I wonder in the wild ,we never do water change.
Why would n't we use age water tank with fish waste and only just adding trace element to tank to complete aquarium fertilizer for the plants? As long as we balance the plants and live stock in tank.,I think waste would not be a problem and water change would not need it while long term tank running only lack of trace element to thrill the plants. Any idea!