Aquarium Fertilizer Basics | Planted Tank Dosing

[@nauticalaquatics7886]

Awesome vid bro! I wish I had a simple guide like this when I first started with planted tanks lol. Also loved the editing when you were reading the list of trace elements in Flourish, totally made me laugh

[@AquariumPlantLab]

We all benefit by sharing within this community, I am glad that you think my videos will help beginner as. Thanks my man! And thanks for regularly checking in!

[@nauticalaquatics7886]

NW Aquahobby Anytime my dude, can't wait for more!! :)

[@tylergrimes2693]

Use a fine mesh bag for your potting soil, helps keep it underneath your decorative substrate and helps keep it out of the water column.

[@JudahMaccabee_]

Great video! Would you recommend using Easy Green as well as Flourish? Not on the same days, but throughout the week?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

I think that would probably be unnecessary. Easy green and most other all in one ferts are designed to have all of the micro and macro nutrients so adding more micro likely wouldn't be necessary and could cause algae issues. I would save the flourish and use that in a low tech tank that has a high bio load. Thanks for watching!

[@melidan30]

Im a personal trainer. U had me at macros. I now understand

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Thanks for watching :)

[@144928]

Thank you for an informative video. I have an established 20 gallon long tank, and want to make it a planted aquarium. Will the plant fertilizer be absorbed y my hang-on-the-back filter that has charcoal? Thanks in advance.

[@AquariumPlantLab]

I would remove the charcoal personally. It would probably absorb some of your ferts initially. After awhile though this effect would likely diminish. If you have a HOB with those cartridges, you should be able to cut into the cartridge and remove the charcoal. I used to do that. Or you can ditch the cartridge entirely and use filter floss, or polyfil, which is significantly cheaper.

[@144928]

@@AquariumPlantLab I have removed the charcoal several times in the past. I keep a few of the empties with my aquarium supplied. Sounds like a good idea to use them. Thanks!

[@segrr4095]

Hi can i ask what concentration of fertilizer do you use on anubias (in a spray bottle)

[@2JZ_Lovin]

Another good video, I have a question you might be able to help me out on. So I have a 10 gallon tank, gravel, aqua clear HOB filter, heated to 78. I’ve got the back planted with vallisneria, eventually the plan is for it to be jungle like, with the Val all over. So as of now I’ve been using easy green, 1 pump per week, but I’m gonna start doing two pumps per week. So the question is I’m thinking about putting in an air stone, do you think it would be a good idea? Or just leave it out. Also I have a nicrew classic led light.

[@AquariumPlantLab]

No harm done with an air stone. If you were growing plants that need co2 I would say skip it because excess surface agitation will drive out any naturally occurring co2z. But val can extract carbon from carbonate hardness in the water so you don’t necessarily need to worry about them in your case. Fyi tho, if you ever do need co2 in the water, hob filters and air stones tend to drive most of the co2 out.

[@kevywilliams3304]

Love your set up

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Thank you!!! 🙏

[@racheldeleeuw1392]

Great video and so easy to understand, thank you!

[@AquariumPlantLab]

You’re welcome, I am glad you found it helpful!

[@kimjackson906]

Hi I need help. Ok so I’m looking to get plants but I don’t have aquarium soil and I want to use gravel.I can get liquid fertilizer but do I have to have the soil ? And if not what plants don’t need soil and co2

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Good question! Anubias and Java Fern would be a good bet. You could also try some of the easier stem varieties and should have reasonable success with them. Those include Bacopa, Water Wisteria, and maybe some Ludwigia. If you want a grassy looking plant then Vallisneria could work too. With the stems and Val some root tabs would definitely help you out a bit and I would definitely recommend a liquid fert. Also make sure your light is capable of growing plants. I have several of the species mentioned for sale on my site if you want to take a look. nwaquahobby.com good luck! 🌱

[@crazyboy8816]

the video was very informative for a beginner like me...thank you so much....also can you tell me the name of the cute (4:00 onward in the video) fish that are in your tank, I have the same fish caught from a stream nearby my house but I don't know any thing about them not even the name. I would love to know more about them so that I can grow them with more care and love....expecting your reply soon!

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Those are Zebra Danios 👍

[@crazyboy8816]

@@AquariumPlantLab thank you

[@aquaticspecialist9410]

Nice video, explains the basics well.

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Aquatic Specialist thanks for watching 🙃

[@preemopoblete719]

Good information, thanks.

[@AquariumPlantLab]

👌

[@tree8925]

Nice video you made! I have the all in one fertilizer and I'm wondering if I could put it in my 30 gallon tank every day? It says one squirt per 10 gallons so I normally give fertilizer three times a week. But I'm thinking since I have so many plants, I might need to be dosing more than that. What's your thoughts on this and if I tried it out to dose every day would it harm my fish and water? I also have CO2 in the tank and the Fluval LED Plant lights but the plants just seem to not grow as fast as I would like them too. The only plant that I have to remove constantly is the Hornwort that's floating and my water lettuce. lol Maybe they are slow growing plants but the plants I have are: Sword plant, Crypt Balansae, Crypt Wendtii, Hornwort, Vallisneria, Water lettuce and Dwarf Sagittaria. The temp in the tank is 77 to 78 degrees. I know some plants like it cooler so I'm thinking that is the issue as well? thank you!

[@AquariumPlantLab]

I would test your water parameters. Maybe consider using nitrogen as a gauge to determine if you should increase or decrease your nutrient dosing. It is difficult to say how much you should use as all tanks are different because of variables, however, monitoring your water parameters should allow you to troubleshoot and find a good balance! Good luck!

[@tree8925]

@@AquariumPlantLab thanks for your input! I'll test a few things out.

[@AquariumPlantLab]

I like to shoot for about 20 ppm nitrogen. Good luck!

[@gillart99]

Do planted tanks get vacuum cleaning? I’m just starting out a planted tank and with just fish and gravel, I’ve always vacuumed my gravel. How do you “vacuum” planted tanks?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

I would recommend vacuuming your tank when there is a big buildup of mulm. Search for aquarium gravel vacuum on KZbin and you should find a lot of resources :)

[@gillart99]

@@AquariumPlantLab Thanks! I have a vacuum. I have other tanks but in those I can move all the plastic plants and decorations around to vacuum the gravel. I was wondering how to do this with plants. Can I move them around and just make sure they’re snug in the gravel somewhere else when I’m done? Or do they have to stay in the same spot?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Great question! I would leave the plants where they are and vacuum around them. You really don’t need to vacuum deep in the substrate, focus on trying to get the stuff that accumulates near the surface. That’s what I do anyway!

[@wiktoria1854]

Hi, can you recommend any other good all in 1 fertilizers - I’m from the UK :)

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Nilocg Thrive makes a good quality all in one fertilizer. Dennerle would probably be a good bet too!

[@djemil9213]

watching from Italy

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Thanks for the support :)

[@rickygkilla1358]

So if I Dont add fertilizer will my plants just die or something? I don’t plan on having co2 either. Is it like a must to add fertilizer each week?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Sometimes you can get away without using ferts. Kind of depends on the plants. You will likely see slower less healthy growth but it can be done!

[@debasishroy7664]

When is the best time to fertilize in planted Tank ?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Time of day isn’t too important in my opinion. The main thing is to be consistent with what days your dose. 👍🏼

[@purgei.o6800]

Is this safe for the fish inside the tank?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Most aquarium fertilizers are safe for fish, always check the bottle :)

[@noumenanoz8819]

I have none of those problems what I have is some algae growing on my plants leaves. And while it’s kinda ugly it seems to come and go, and it has no rhyme or reason to why it’s there. Wish I could just understand why it shows up and what I can do to reduce it. It’s not the best looking.

[@netcalibur]

Any impact on fishes?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Not if you use ferts designed for aquariums and use as directed! Always read the label for cautions though :)

[@netcalibur]

@@AquariumPlantLab cheers

[@AquariumPlantLab]

🍻

[@savi5634]

Is florish safe for turtles

[@AquariumPlantLab]

I would imagine so but I am not sure 🤔

[@myzoo2856]

Is the api good

[@AquariumPlantLab]

API Leafzone? I haven’t had any experience with it. If I remember though I don’t think it is an all in one Fert. You will want to make sure you have enough nitrogen phosphorus and potassium. Good luck!

[@myzoo2856]

@@AquariumPlantLab thx

[@myzoo2856]

@@AquariumPlantLab in my tank I am trying to do a no fur tank because I have a decent amount of bioload and this is my first time doing a planted tank 10 gallon I have new Wikia anubias can java fern will that be good blue Wikia read luga

[@CristianoMiami13]

APi is good for Iron supplementation that's about it

[@AquariumPlantLab]

I would recommend going with an all in one fert personally, bioload only will typically lack a balanced nutrient profile for all but the lowest tech plants (Anubias and Java Fern would probably do alright though).

[@travhall14]

Should of mention npk are their periodic letter on the periodic table

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Indeed they are! 👍

[@jaderainhans9095]

i just dont get why my plant is turning red

[@AquariumPlantLab]

That could be due to a variety of reasons depending on the species and may not be a bad thing. What is the species? and what light, substrate, nutrients, are you using?

[@3fxz483]

I'm just trying to give my plant a stronger growth rate

[@AquariumPlantLab]

Easy green should help you out with that!

[@3fxz483]

@@AquariumPlantLab I'm using fluval

[@AquariumPlantLab]

They make great products too! I’ve never tried their ferts (but I love their lights). I’m sure they make quality fertilizers as well! 👍

[@jerryboics9550]

Aquarium co op? How bout they just say whose nutrients they're watering down and re bottling?

[@AquariumPlantLab]

All in one liquid ferts are inherently more expensive indeed, just by nature of how they are prepared. However, they do have a place in the hobby, especially for those that want something simple. The price for Easy Green is pretty competitive in my opinion. If you want to see my full review of Easy Green I have a video on that! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqvMe6NngbqVgdE