Do unused liquid fertilizers go bad?

[Nanami]

I have a set of Dr Mallick's Lushgro liquid ferts from a few years back.

I've recently picked up this hobby after dropping out of it few years back.

I tried to do a search regarding the expiry and effective periods of liquid ferts and no results seems to turn up on my searches.

My queries are: Would it be safe to use liquid fertilizers after so long? Would the effectiveness of it diminish with age?

I do notice crystallization in the bottle and the colour seems to have change a wee bit darker though.

Please advise?

[wong1979]

I have a LushGro Aqua (1 litre) bought about 5 yrs back. I am still using it with about a quarter left. No issues with it.

However, I have a very bad experience with a free sample of capsule ferts (ferka) collected free at one of the fish shows. I did not even open it for many years until recently. The gelatin has melted but I thought it's okay and put about 2 capsules into my 2 ft tank.

Within an hour, I noticed all my shrimps, 100s of them congregating at 1 corner of my tank. That's when I realised something is wrong. Keep changing water but was too late. Half of the shrimps population were wiped out, my entire colony of harlequin rasboras died and a few black neons.

My plants like crypt and green brush algae were also affected. The green brush algae turned white but managed to go back to green after about a week.

[|squee|]

I have a Dr Mallick's trace ferts that I've been using for about 4 years now. No bad effects observed.

[Nanami]

I have a LushGro Aqua (1 litre) bought about 5 yrs back. I am still using it with about a quarter left. No issues with it.

However, I have a very bad experience with a free sample of capsule ferts (ferka) collected free at one of the fish shows. I did not even open it for many years until recently. The gelatin has melted but I thought it's okay and put about 2 capsules into my 2 ft tank.

Within an hour, I noticed all my shrimps, 100s of them congregating at 1 corner of my tank. That's when I realised something is wrong. Keep changing water but was too late. Half of the shrimps population were wiped out, my entire colony of harlequin rasboras died and a few black neons.

My plants like crypt and green brush algae were also affected. The green brush algae turned white but managed to go back to green after about a week.

that was my concern. but i guess when ferts contain additives it's not the elements in the ferts that went bad but rather the additives that spoils it all. in this case it could be the gelatin in the ferka capsules that turned rancid plus other binding materials that had gone bad.

i'm glad to know that Lushgro series do not turn bad, could be that they do not have other unnatural additives?? I can safely use the ferts now thanks to your sharing

[Nanami]

I have a Dr Mallick's trace ferts that I've been using for about 4 years now. No bad effects observed.

thank you for your advise bro.

does yours cystallize or turn into a darker color? i got them i think 4 yrs back from Gratiola (which seems to have ceased operations) and have only used a little bit of it, still have 80% left.

your nick looks familiar, i think i've seen your postings 4/5/6 yrs ago in AF when I was still pretty active in this hobby.

[|squee|]

I can't tell if mine has darkened or not for sure (it's so old).

Imho it should be fine... I just shake the bottle every time I use it.

Gratiola was a good shop. I miss it.

[barmby]

The rule of thumb. Always store in dark, cool, and dry places. Likewise for medicine and wine. I think what happened to Ferka was it came in contact with moist. The product itself is ok. But the problem is the storage.

[kanguin]

Shelf life?? I don't know. I still have some Epsom salt from 1994. Still using it. Was only less than $2 buck. It cost more than twice now.
As for liquid fert, all good. never have a 'x-files' before. All good even after 5 years.

[Nanami]

Shelf life?? I don't know. I still have some Epsom salt from 1994. Still using it. Was only less than $2 buck. It cost more than twice now.
As for liquid fert, all good. never have a 'x-files' before. All good even after 5 years.

what is Epsom salt used for?

[dannyfish]

Shelf life?? I don't know. I still have some Epsom salt from 1994. Still using it. Was only less than $2 buck. It cost more than twice now.
As for liquid fert, all good. never have a 'x-files' before. All good even after 5 years.

still can rem where u buy the epsom salt?

[TyroneGenade]

Solutions of nitrate/ammonia can become contaminated with bacteria.

[blackBRUSHalgae]

I threw mine (both Dr Mallick macro and micro) away within 6 months.... white puffy stuffs started growing in them. Mine was kept in a cool and dark cabinet... Never have any problem before with other ferts. ( ADA, Ferka, etc.)

[barmby]

They simply coagulate. Next time give it to me.

[dannyfish]

Hi

I used 2.5ml of aqua n mixed with 1000ml of water
N pour 250ml into my 55l tank, is it too much?

Being for quite some time and nothing much hapened ....

[blackBRUSHalgae]

Ooooo so you are saying they have crystallized? They look like some white fluffy fungus growing on the surface of the liquid ferts.... how certain are you that those are crystallized form? how certain are you that the ferts are still stabilized and usable to the potential when they are fresh? Well I'm sure I'm not any chemist... so I threw them away just to be safe hahahaa...

They simply coagulate. Next time give it to me.

[barmby]

I am not certain actually. I will just use them. I did. I am not too worried because they will disappear in my tank after i come back and observe them

[blue33]

I heard those white stuff are some kind of bacteria thing but they are ok. It happen to mine also, no issues on that, i still dosed the fert and plant still grow healthy and fauna are doing fine.

[blackBRUSHalgae]

I am not certain actually. I will just use them. I did. I am not too worried because they will disappear in my tank after i come back and observe them

I heard those white stuff are some kind of bacteria thing but they are ok. It happen to mine also, no issues on that, i still dosed the fert and plant still grow healthy and fauna are doing fine.

hahahha icic... cool... thanks for the info! it was actually my first time using them... not much experience. Now I'm back to dry dosing again.