Plant fertilizer

**scottcjag** · 04-13-2011, 01:10 AM

I planted my aquarium a couple weeks ago and I am wondering about using some liquid fertilizer in my tank.The plants are all doing well, but I would like a little more growth. The plants are low light (anubias, java fern, java moss, horn wort, wisteria) and I'm not using any CO2. I'm basically trying to keep the planting as easy as possible. Can someone please give me some advice on using fertilizer in my tank?

**sphingo** · 04-13-2011, 02:35 AM

The two basic types of fertilizers are root tabs and liquid ferts, it sounds like most of your plants won't have roots in the substrate so liquid ferts will probably be the way to go. I use sea chem flourish and my plants have been exploding.

**scottcjag** · 04-13-2011, 02:52 AM

So you just put it straight in the water? Its OK for the fish?

**DrNic** · 04-13-2011, 03:15 AM

There are a number of liquid ferts that are safe to add to the aquarium. Seachem Flourish is one of the best and my personal favorite. DO NOT add fertalizer that you would use in the garden however.

Given your plants I would use half a dose of Flourish maybe once or twice a week. Unless your tank is heavily planted too much fertilizer can lead to some major algae issues.

**SunSchein89** · 04-13-2011, 03:23 AM

Yeah, with slow growers like that, I'd be careful with dosing ferts. You can't speed up the growth of plants that naturally grow slowly; algae will gladly take up those nutrients. If it ain't broke don't fix it.