Normal Dry Fertilizer( For Land Potting Plants) to be Used in Planted Tanks

[wongce]

Hi, anyone used the dry fert for normal potting plants in planted tank before? those with NPK:15% round & coloured types sold in NTUC,Shop & Save?

[GuppyLover]

I've also wondered myself if we could use those fert/soil. Anyone can advice on this?

[bryan]

Yes you can use potting soil and dry fert. You will need a layer of sand to seal it from the water column. It should not be exposed at any time. I've also read of people using kitty litter, Blood & Bone meal(A type of fertilizer) and also dried chicken manure. But why risk it when you still have many types of cheap aquatic fertilizer and substrate available?

[wongce]

Aquatic soil/fert are not as cheap as dry fert/potting soil,can save money in long
Run...haha.. Any bro/sis uses them?? How much and how to add fert into the tank?? Crush the round pellets and add into water?? The label doesn't say it contain any CU though..only NPK each 15%..

I am trying out in my nano using potting soil+ inert black quartz.. Glosso growing well.. And fast... Just a low cost experiment.. Poor man's tank style..haha..

[felix_fx2]

Please google Diana walstad's book.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/096737...dir_mdp_mobile

Contains many info to use topsoil. (not the orange one the darkbrown one with no pearlite)

[felix_fx2]

Yes you can use potting soil and dry fert. You will need a layer of sand to seal it from the water column. It should not be exposed at any time. I've also read of people using kitty litter, Blood & Bone meal(A type of fertilizer) and also dried chicken manure. But why risk it when you still have many types of cheap aquatic fertilizer and substrate available?

Chicken shit will kill fish. Plain is good.

What is cheap to you may not apply to others. We have students and young army boys in here. Just my 50cents.

[AlexHcp]

Me me !! i am a young army boys.. frankly speaking commercial Aquarium fert not cheap ehh.. lucky got some nice bro donate to me else i am going to look for other forms of cheaper fertilizer .... LOL..

[Navanod]

Fertilizers for land plants normally contains ammonia instead of nitrate for the N source. Beware as that may cause ammonia spikes and kill livestocks

[bryan]

$10 for 10kg of lapis sand, 1 can of Tetra Initial Sticks $6-$8 to be mix together for a 2ft tank. That's my idea of cheap. I've never used aquatic soil and fancy Japanese branded stuff before. $3 for a bag of potting soil and end up risking $10 worth of fish?


Don't tell me about NS pay. I got $135 per month as a Pte.

[felix_fx2]

Fertilizers for land plants normally contains ammonia instead of nitrate for the N source. Beware as that may cause ammonia spikes and kill livestocks

That is correct.

If cycle longer should solve that.
For my tanks using topsoil I always start 1week-2weeks dsm and WIWO during WC.

[felix_fx2]

$10 for 10kg of lapis sand, 1 can of Tetra Initial Sticks $6-$8 to be mix together for a 2ft tank. That's my idea of cheap. I've never used aquatic soil and fancy Japanese branded stuff before. $3 for a bag of potting soil and end up risking $10 worth of fish?


Don't tell me about NS pay. I got $135 per month as a Pte.

I noticed treta sticks don't last very long. Lapis don't hold much/any nutrition for plants.

Good potting soil suitable for aqua usage cost around 4-5. We cycle tanks for branded ones too bro no excuse for topsoil to skip that.

Haha. So you also feel same as I about NSF pay nowadays.

[wongce]

I have whole bunch of hornwarts prepared to suck up all the ammonia..heheh..have to be more patient if we want to save money..but no harm Waiting though. Cycling is part of the fun..haha..

potting soil really works fine for me or my glosso. It's a experiment to show that even less rich guys like us can also have a decent planted tank using a fraction of the cost and a lot of patience.. I am not against aqua soil or fert,but I just want to proof that normal potting soil with selected fert works well too. The prob is control the amount of certain chemical used.. No harm for trial n error...

Felix, u really make me wonder how you can have so many tanks + equipment without decent income!! Lol

[wongce]

Btw,back to the question,anyone tried using those dry fert..any advise??

Maybe I am the first guy to try them??lol

[bryan]

Dry pellet fert no, but I've tried Horti fertilizer sticks. Great for rosette plants. Somehow they've seem to disappear from the shops already.
Maybe you can try Blood & Bone Meal, I once knew a landscaper who recomended it for growing plants like lotus and lily in ponds.

[wongce]

Dry pellet fert no, but I've tried Horti fertilizer sticks. Great for rosette plants. Somehow they've seem to disappear from the shops already.
Maybe you can try Blood & Bone Meal, I once knew a landscaper who recomended it for growing plants like lotus and lily in ponds.

I am looking for them(horti sticks) in supermarkets but I can't find them too..maybe have to research some other
alternative brands..

Wow use bone meal?? That's new..I saw some blog where they use kitty litter(clay based) not too sure about that...maybe some adventures bros can try out as I am out of tanks already..lol..

[bryan]

If you like researching alternative methods you can read up the 'El Natural' folder in Aquatic Plant Central. Lots of daring(desperate), ingenious stuff in there.

[Shadow]

It is unfortunate for Singapore hobyist that goverment decided to put kno3 in control item. Otherwisr its the cheapest fert

[octopus]

I am looking for them(horti sticks) in supermarkets but I can't find them too..maybe have to research some other
alternative brands..

Wow use bone meal?? That's new..I saw some blog where they use kitty litter(clay based) not too sure about that...maybe some adventures bros can try out as I am out of tanks already..lol..

I never came across horti sticks are they the same as Horti soil?. Horti soil available at Giant.

[Navanod]

It is unfortunate for Singapore hobyist that goverment decided to put kno3 in control item. Otherwisr its the cheapest fert

Can still be mixed from other legal ferts if you have the time.

[felix_fx2]

Felix, u really make me wonder how you can have so many tanks + equipment without decent income!! Lol

Wait and camp buy sell for free tanks lol.
Poor man is no choice, wait to strike lottery haha.