Qs customising my own base fert.

[limsteel]

Setting up a tank soon, need to clear this doubt...

Read and heard that (most) plants absorbes nutrients thru their root more efficiently. Therefore I wanted to add Mallick's Rexolin with 13% Fe, PO4, KSO4, Ca, Mg... to the base before topup the normal gravel...

I am planning to dump about 50g of Rexolin, 25g KH2PO4, 25g of KSO4 and a small $2 worth of Coral Chips (for Ca & Mg) before covering with about 5cm thick gravel

Q: Will over fertilisation of the base, cause plants to BURN (as stated on some website)

[PeterGwee]

[quote:070298b470="Limsteel"]Read and heard that (most) plants absorbes nutrients thru their root more efficiently. Therefore I wanted to add Mallick's Rexolin with 13% Fe, PO4, KSO4, Ca, Mg... to the base before topup the normal gravel...[/quote:070298b470]

Where did you read that? Its not true! Plants have an easier time taking in nutrients through the leaves instead of the roots. (Some plants don't even have roots.. ). As long as nutrients are abundant in the water column, plants will not switch to root uptake. It takes time for them to switch from the water column to the substrate for your info. Rich substrates are fine and can act as a backup for the water column if you slack off on the dosing part but is impossible to test if you want to.

[quote:070298b470="Limsteel"]Will over fertilisation of the base, cause plants to BURN[/quote:070298b470]

No. Its the lack of something that is usually the issue. Not too much.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[limsteel]

http://home.infinet.net/teban/substrat.htm
under Subsection "Fertile Substrates"...

Got the "plant got better aborption of nutrient through their roots" idea from there...

[bclee]

If you are going for high light and CO2 injected setup. Probably the only thing you would need to add to the substrate is Fe. That is if you are not using clay-based substrates.

Don't add things like Rexolin. This are soluble chelated Fe. They will leach back into the water in no time. You can try laterite, Fe tabs or even iron filings.

As some have suggested, you can add mulm form a matured tank to kick start the tank. This mulm will contain beneficial bacteria to help break down nutrients for the plants. Some peat can also be added. Some media with good CEC can be used if you are only using plain gravel.

If you are going to a low-light non-CO2 setup, a good rich substrate with some organic material will help.

BC

[limsteel]

roger! Jugg also warn me about the the Fe getting into the main tank. Thanks will do a search on the CEC media... THANKS !

[Plantbrain]

[quote:e3073a5b37="limsteel"]http://home.infinet.net/teban/substrat.htm
under Subsection "Fertile Substrates"...

Got the "plant got better aborption of nutrient through their roots" idea from there...[/quote:e3073a5b37]

Nope.
They would prefer it if they have been provided with a choice, when you do that, they take it in through their leaves. There are studies that showed this specifically, they even cut the roots off and had the same growth rates.

You can do a similar test by using RFUG's and add different things to the substrate while maintaining a water column rich in nutrients to see for yourself.

Alternatively, you can add everything to the substrate and nothing to the water column, they did this method a great deal in the past.

Didn't work that well at higher light(higher growth rates).

But the plants can get most of their needs met that way if you wish.

Both methods have some use and it adds somewhat of a backup plan.

More nutrients is not "better" in the substrate.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[hobbit6003]

One question always in my mind is that, if plants prefer nutrient uptake through their foliage, then how would fertiliser booster ball such as the Root Monster be so evidently efficient in increasing the rate of growth and the biomass of the plant?

And I'm referring to a tank where the water column is enriched with nutrients for the plants. For those plants which have these booster balls inserted near to, they're significantly much bigger and gorw very much faster, and its significant effect can be seen within 2 weeks of insertion. Not that other plants are not doing well, but those with root monsters/booster balls will do exceptionally well.

So, does this attest to the notion that as far as nutrient is concerned, 'the more the merrier', and that when nutrient is in significant excess in the substrate, root uptake of these nutrient will experience a surge?

Cheers,

Kenny

[juggler]

[quote:d8ed6b3129="limsteel"]I am planning to dump about 50g of Rexolin, 25g KH2PO4, 25g of KSO4 and a small $2 worth of Coral Chips (for Ca & Mg) before covering with about 5cm thick gravel[/quote:d8ed6b3129]

Sounds like you are trying to hide nuclear waste underground....
I think better keep the substrate simple and not too fertile. It's safer to under-dose than overdose.

[bclee]

[quote:8c03a84f20="hobbit6003"]One question always in my mind is that, if plants prefer nutrient uptake through their foliage, then how would fertiliser booster ball such as the Root Monster be so evidently efficient in increasing the rate of growth and the biomass of the plant?

And I'm referring to a tank where the water column is enriched with nutrients for the plants. For those plants which have these booster balls inserted near to, they're significantly much bigger and gorw very much faster, and its significant effect can be seen within 2 weeks of insertion. Not that other plants are not doing well, but those with root monsters/booster balls will do exceptionally well.

So, does this attest to the notion that as far as nutrient is concerned, 'the more the merrier', and that when nutrient is in significant excess in the substrate, root uptake of these nutrient will experience a surge?

Cheers,

Kenny[/quote:8c03a84f20]

I am making a guess here...

One might be able to get a higher concentration gradient in the substrate compared to the water column. That might contribute to faster uptake of nutrients.

I am not sure whether it is valid. But we can have a discussion here.

BC