Miracle gro fertilizer?

[pmcarbrey]

I was recently told that it is possible to use miracle gro to dose a planted tank, is this correct? I was told that it would not harm any of the fish and that it would be an easy alternative to ordering fertilizers to dose with

[UDGags]

Probably no

Most contain urea (listed on back as ammonical nitrogen sometimes), which breaks down into ammonia.

And a good portion contain heavy metals, which are toxic as well. Check the contents of the one you want to buy here

http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilize...ct1.aspx?ltr=M

[happi]

urea is not the problem if ph is 7< but i think Miracle gro isn't balanced fertilizer for planted tanks.

[pmcarbrey]

Originally Posted by happi

urea is not the problem if ph is 7< but i think Miracle gro isn't balanced fertilizer for planted tanks.

Ph out of the tap is 8.6, so no worries there, I'll go ahead and check the box I have lying around and see if it's any good!

[UDGags]

I'd personally be worried more about the heavy metals in most Miracle Gro if I had fish/inverts in the tank that are sensitive.

[ronnie6989]

I seen somebody use (miracle grow organic) up on the internet.....I WOULD NOT USE IT. You really got to watch what additives are in it and how it is going to affect ur ph.

Ronnie

[steven p]

I use gro-fine, a more balanced knock-off.

[In.a.Box]

I use the All purpose plant food no problem.
Just dose small amount at a time. My is run on a auto fert dose-er ^^

I know a guy who been using it for yrs with snail, shrimp, fish, plant etc.

[pmcarbrey]

Originally Posted by In.a.Box

I use the All purpose plant food no problem.
Just dose small amount at a time. My is run on a auto fert dose-er ^^

I know a guy who been using it for yrs with snail, shrimp, fish, plant etc.

How much do you dose? The all purpose is what I have

[happi]

Originally Posted by pmcarbrey

Ph out of the tap is 8.6, so no worries there, I'll go ahead and check the box I have lying around and see if it's any good!

i meant to say urea or ammonium based fert become problem if Ph is higher than 7. yours is already high enough to convert ammonium or urea into ammonia within seconds after adding to the water. i wouldn't suggest adding this fert in that parameter.

[UDGags]

Originally Posted by pmcarbrey

How much do you dose? The all purpose is what I have

Which all purpose? like full name exact....

[pmcarbrey]

Originally Posted by UDGags

This one?
http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Fertilize...spx?pname=2069

Yep, that's it

[happi]

Originally Posted by pmcarbrey

Yep, that's it

N and P looks ok but K+ is low, which can be added separated through K2SO4, but there are so many other metals at higher rate which might not be suitable for planted tank.

[UDGags]

Originally Posted by pmcarbrey

Yep, that's it

The metals are so high...you better be careful.

I think 3% of the N is urea, which will be ammonia within seconds at your pH. Keep this in mind if you are going to dose with it.

[Darkblade48]

As people have already mentioned, I would highly recommend you not using any (terrestrial) fertilizer that uses ammonical nitrogen (urea) as its nitrogen source, since it will become ammonia in your aquarium (at a pH of 8.6, there will essentially be no ammonium anion formation).

There have been people that have successfully dosed with urea, but I do not think they ever dosed when there was livestock in the aquarium.