Plants use certain elements in large amounts.
H= Hydrogen and O= oxygen; ought to be in the tanks already.
C= Carbon; the item most often in short supply. Liquid source is Excel.
(Excel does not offer other nutrients, just carbon. It is on the label)
Plants use certain elements in large amounts, but not quite as much as the first 3. This group is called Macros.
N = Nitrogen; Fish food supplies quite a bit of nitrogen. If the NO3 test is between 5-10ppm then there is probably enough N.
P = Phosphorus; Fish food supplies quite a bit of phosphorus. If the NO3 test is between 5-10ppm then there is probably enough P. (The NO3 test is not specific for phosphorus, just a way of seeing if fish food is enough N and P for your tank)
K = Potassium; This one is in low supply in fish foods, so even low tech tanks seem to need potassium.
In liquid form these are all available in the Flourish line. You need to get each one separately because each tank is different. If fish food supplies enough N and P, then just get the K.
Plants use several more elements in a moderate amount. These are secondary nutrients.
Ca = Calcium
Mg = Magnesium
These are usually supplied by your tap water. If the GH is at least 3 German degrees of hardness, then is it likely that there is enough Ca and Mg. If the GH is too low, use Seachem Equilibrium or other GH booster. Read the label and make sure they do not have sodium chloride.
Fe = Iron. This one is available in the Flourish line. This element is one that is in low supply from fish food, so even low tech tanks seem to need iron.
Plants use a lot of other nutrients in such small amounts that they are lumped together as Traces or Micros.
Fish food can supply them, or you can use Seachem's Trace.
There are dry options for all these, too. With just one tank, and just getting started, use the liquids until you get a feel for how your tank responds. When you decide to get more and larger tanks you will find the dry ferts are more reasonably priced.
H= Hydrogen and O= oxygen; ought to be in the tanks already.
C= Carbon; the item most often in short supply. Liquid source is Excel.
(Excel does not offer other nutrients, just carbon. It is on the label)
Plants use certain elements in large amounts, but not quite as much as the first 3. This group is called Macros.
N = Nitrogen; Fish food supplies quite a bit of nitrogen. If the NO3 test is between 5-10ppm then there is probably enough N.
P = Phosphorus; Fish food supplies quite a bit of phosphorus. If the NO3 test is between 5-10ppm then there is probably enough P. (The NO3 test is not specific for phosphorus, just a way of seeing if fish food is enough N and P for your tank)
K = Potassium; This one is in low supply in fish foods, so even low tech tanks seem to need potassium.
In liquid form these are all available in the Flourish line. You need to get each one separately because each tank is different. If fish food supplies enough N and P, then just get the K.
Plants use several more elements in a moderate amount. These are secondary nutrients.
Ca = Calcium
Mg = Magnesium
These are usually supplied by your tap water. If the GH is at least 3 German degrees of hardness, then is it likely that there is enough Ca and Mg. If the GH is too low, use Seachem Equilibrium or other GH booster. Read the label and make sure they do not have sodium chloride.
Fe = Iron. This one is available in the Flourish line. This element is one that is in low supply from fish food, so even low tech tanks seem to need iron.
Plants use a lot of other nutrients in such small amounts that they are lumped together as Traces or Micros.
Fish food can supply them, or you can use Seachem's Trace.
There are dry options for all these, too. With just one tank, and just getting started, use the liquids until you get a feel for how your tank responds. When you decide to get more and larger tanks you will find the dry ferts are more reasonably priced.
