base fert exhausted.

[mervin]

hi all !!!

it looks like the base fert of my 5 ft planted tank has exhausted itself.

any suggestions besides ripping out everything and starting a fresh ????

i have inserted "monster root" fert for my Rosette plants but wht got me sratching my head are my stem plants.
this is because more then half the surface area is covered by them.

thanks.
mervin

[tcy81]

how do u know if yr tank's base fert is exhuasted ?
i tink monster root is still the best choice .....

[Simon]

[quote:f1ef835859="mervin"]hi all !!!

it looks like the base fert of my 5 ft planted tank has exhausted itself.

any suggestions besides ripping out everything and starting a fresh ????

i have inserted "monster root" fert for my Rosette plants but wht got me sratching my head are my stem plants.
this is because more then half the surface area is covered by them.

thanks.
mervin[/quote:f1ef835859]

Mervin, perharps it is something else. In my case, the rosette plants started to shrink in size but it doesnt affect the stemmed since they could always absorb nutrients via their leaves

[loupgarou]

pull out and smell roots..

[PeterGwee]

The nutrients in the substrate will always regenerate itself from fish poo and some from nutrients dosed via water column. It is a on going process so why do you think it will be exhausted? What happen to your plants? Did you dose via the water column? What nutrients are you dosing? Did you check your CO2 level? Did the CO2 level drop?

Regards
Peter Gwee

[mervin]

hi simon,
my rosette plants r growing like crazy !!!!
plenty of big fat leaves and the Echinodorus have super red or pink leaves.

helo peter,
my CO2 is ok, Kh4 and Ph is 6.4-6.5.
no choice b'cos i'm keeping wild discus altums and apistos.

i suspect that the fert is exhausted is b'cos the tank is ready almost 4.5-5 yrs old and my stem though is growing.......their stem is very thin and leaves dn't look so healthy.

[PeterGwee]

Mervin, your NO3 probably bottom out and stunt your plants. I wouldn't recommend you use to Jobe sticks via the substrate as they contain nitrogen in the form of ammonia which will triggger "green water" if some leeched to the water column side. Try some KNO3 instead...Give us more info on your tank and we will try to help you better.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[mervin]

thanks for that peter,

anyway, i fail my chemistry class lah. wht is KNO3 ???

[PeterGwee]

KNO3 aka potassium nitrate available at Dr Mallick's retail outlets.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[mervin]

ok, thanks.

i have a bottle of Seachem Flourish Potassium, can that do ???

haven't use this for a while because whenever i dose, aglae seem to make an appearance.

[PeterGwee]

You need to give me parameters of your tank before I can come up with something.

KNO3 main purpose is for the NO3 dosing and not the potassium dosing.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[budak]

Mervin,
there is a thread in the Aquatic FAQ section entitled "articles on dosing" which will provide the basic fert information you need.

[mervin]

will go take those parameters, peter.

thanks budak for the tip.

cheers