Proper Ferts for Planted Tank w/shrimp

MartyMA · 05-23-2012, 02:20 PM

I tried to look around for a definitive answer before posting. My 20 long is heavily planted with various anubias and java fern on driftwood along with various rooted plants. Hovering over all is a dense mat of frogbit. I had been dosing with Flourish and running a very low end CO2 setup. Since the arrival of RCS, I have stopped using the Flourish due to the trace amount of copper and shut off the CO2. I think that the CO2 (yeast-based) will be fine to start up again but cannot figure out what if anything to use for plant ferts. Drys might be okay but what about the floating and driftwood anchored plants? I guess the real question is what liquid fertliizer can I use that does not contain copper? Am I being too cautious about the Flourish? Thanks for any input.

triscene · 05-23-2012, 03:19 PM

too cautios..pmdd has copper, flourish has copper, sera florena has copper...it is about amounts...these are safe if u dont overdose...and dont forget that shrimp blood is copper based...u can be okay..i am running fire red and crs tank with co2 and ferts and no issues..

ryc120 · 05-23-2012, 03:24 PM

Flourish is fine to use with shrimp. Just don't overdo it.

I am in the same boat as you. I have a 29g that's heavily planted with just CRS. I think the key is to cut down on the light intensity so you can use less CO2, and dose much less. This way you can cut down on the water changes.

chicken · 05-23-2012, 03:39 PM

I have had no problems using Flourish and co2 with red cherry shrimp.

**pejerrey** · 05-23-2012, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryc120

Flourish is fine to use with shrimp. Just don't overdo it.

I am in the same boat as you. I have a 29g that's heavily planted with just CRS. I think the key is to cut down on the light intensity so you can use less CO2, and dose much less. This way you can cut down on the water changes.

I agree, I'm been wondering the same.
I want to dose 0.5 ml daily of pps pro in this tank:

But I'm afraid.

To the member that doses, How much you dose?

Thanks!

MartyMA · 05-23-2012, 09:15 PM

Thanks for all your responses!! I will use flourish in great moderation. Gotta feed the plants!

Diana · 05-24-2012, 05:41 AM

The product most commonly called Flourish is a low dose of trace minerals.
Plants also need nitrogen, phosphates and potassium. The flourish product line includes these as separate items so you can customize the dosing for your tank. Or you can go with dry fertilizers, N, P, K and micros such as CSM+B

05-23-2012, 02:20 PM	#1
MartyMA Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Peabody, MA Posts: 32	Proper Ferts for Planted Tank w/shrimp I tried to look around for a definitive answer before posting. My 20 long is heavily planted with various anubias and java fern on driftwood along with various rooted plants. Hovering over all is a dense mat of frogbit. I had been dosing with Flourish and running a very low end CO2 setup. Since the arrival of RCS, I have stopped using the Flourish due to the trace amount of copper and shut off the CO2. I think that the CO2 (yeast-based) will be fine to start up again but cannot figure out what if anything to use for plant ferts. Drys might be okay but what about the floating and driftwood anchored plants? I guess the real question is what liquid fertliizer can I use that does not contain copper? Am I being too cautious about the Flourish? Thanks for any input.

05-23-2012, 03:24 PM	#3
ryc120 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 200	Flourish is fine to use with shrimp. Just don't overdo it. I am in the same boat as you. I have a 29g that's heavily planted with just CRS. I think the key is to cut down on the light intensity so you can use less CO2, and dose much less. This way you can cut down on the water changes. __________________ My 29 gallon planted tank!

05-23-2012, 03:39 PM	#4
chicken Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Catonsville, Maryland USA Posts: 540	I have had no problems using Flourish and co2 with red cherry shrimp. __________________ My nano tanks: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/me...ano-tanks.html Greater Washington Aquatic Plant Association www.gwapa.org

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05-23-2012, 03:19 PM	#2
triscene Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Slovakia Posts: 103	too cautios..pmdd has copper, flourish has copper, sera florena has copper...it is about amounts...these are safe if u dont overdose...and dont forget that shrimp blood is copper based...u can be okay..i am running fire red and crs tank with co2 and ferts and no issues..

05-23-2012, 09:15 PM	#6
MartyMA Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Peabody, MA Posts: 32	Thanks for all your responses!! I will use flourish in great moderation. Gotta feed the plants!

05-24-2012, 05:41 AM	#7
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,013	The product most commonly called Flourish is a low dose of trace minerals. Plants also need nitrogen, phosphates and potassium. The flourish product line includes these as separate items so you can customize the dosing for your tank. Or you can go with dry fertilizers, N, P, K and micros such as CSM+B