Water column fert advice

Hi everyone,


I'm pretty new to planted tanks and would like to get my new one off to a good start with some water column fertilising. Which brand do you recommend?
I've been looking at:
DSD
Tropica Plant Growth Specialised Fertiliser
Microbe-Lift All-in-One


DSD would be my first choice, but I think the Prof is quite busy at the moment as I'm battling to get hold of him, so I thought I'd try a commercial brand. Out of those the Tropica one seems like the best value for money...


To give you an idea of my tank:
700l tank (180cm x 70cm x 60cm)
Lighting: 12 x 39w T5s
Substrate: Prof's PFP
Filtration: Cannister filter
Heating: 2 x 300W


The tank has only been running for about 3 weeks now and is looking awesome! It will be eventually be lightly stocked with fish (I've just added the first batch - 10 Black Phantom Tetras). I'd like the plants to be the main focus, so want to get my ferts right...
The plants at the moment are just mish mash of everything I could find, just so I could get an idea of what grows nicely.


Thanks for your help!
Gordon

 

@Dirk, Dirks name has changed on the forum to @Dirk not the full name and surname any more, see if he answers this mention. With a tank as large as yours DSD is the way to go cost wise!!!

 

I second DSD.

 

Thanks for the responses, guys!

Dirk - hope you're out there

 

Also keen to buy from @Dirk, but he has been scarce and difficult to get hold of.

 

Dirks DSD is very good,
but in the interim try the Tropica.
You will not be dissapointed

 

Thanks Algae Wizard. I'll try source some Tropica down here if I don't manage to get hold of Dirk soon.

 

why dont you try KH2PO4 and KNO3, in powder form for macros and Trelmix for micros.
This will work you out the cheapest on such a big tank, and the results you get is amazing.
This is what i use in my tanks

 

:top:

 

Hi Everyone,

After an exhausting week, I have just looked in on TASA and found this thread.

Firstly, my work load over recent years and particularly recent months has increased more and more and as a result my amount of time left for forums has decreased dramatically.

Secondly, recent events on TASA and before that on APSA, have indicated to me that I need to reconsider my investment in time on forums completely, I often have the feeling that I am wasting my time as I find that I have to repeat things time and time again.

The fertilization of aquatic plants requires a lot more than just the quick cheap fix that the last two posts have indicated. I have posted numerous posts in this forum about the inadequacy of this sort of attempt at fertilization, but there are still persons that seem to think that this is not necessary. If you want your plants to grow well, this is not going to work. As long as this attitude prevails, you may get the hardy run of the mill aquatic plants to grow, but complex and really beautiful but challenging plants will not grow properly in your tanks. I am also not going to fight this, I just don't have the time to try to convert everyone. However, every time there is a discussion about plant feeding it ends up in someone saying that the cheap Dischem option works just as well, and as long as this attitude prevails, we will not be making progress in getting aquatic plants to grow better in aquaria in South Africa, that is the bottom line.

Gordon, my time has been taken up with the importation of a food shipment from Germany which I have now distributed to various interested parties. I will now respond to your request and will be able to send you some DSD in the next week.

Ashley has also indicated that he may be interested in distributing DSD in the Gauteng area and I will be organizing this with him in the near future.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

@Dirk , I completely dissagree with your statement, in where you say that the above mention ferts that I recomended is a cheap fix!!

Yes it is very cheap in dosing with this Estimative Index, as it is called, and it covers all the components that plants need to grow

Obviously, you have not seen my tanks yet, and what can be achieved with these ferts

Dont get me wrong, I am not starting a fight or anything here, but It is defeniately not a cheap fix, as you have said it to be

 

Hi Dirk,

Good to hear from you! And so glad to hear that you'll be able to get some DSD to me soon!
I must say that it's sad to hear that you are becoming discouraged from participating in the forums. As you know, I am new to planted tanks, and I learnt so much just from reading your posts on this site. Your PFP substrate saved me thousands of rands in my new tank. And now it sounds like your DSD will be saving me even more money! Thanks for all the time and effort you have put into helping us non-scientists have beautiful tanks!

Thanks,
Gordon

 

Hi Gordon,

Thanks for your complementary comments. I will respond by email during the day.

Hi Morris,

I am way past starting any fights with anybody, I just don't have the time and the energy. For your information and for others reading this thread, DSD has a medium tech and high tech option that incorporates the Estimative Index fully, I incorporated the EI in DSD about three years ago. The EI option using the chemicals that are purchased as you explain do not make use of the correct counterions, much too much sulphates, and are also not pH balanced, trelmix also does not have the correct ratios of trace elements for aquatic plant growth. Although your plants may show good growth with the chemicals that you say you add, the more sensitive ones will not grow properly, and my earlier statement is saying exactly that. I am also not prepared to bicker over this, and have to try to justify myself, you can decide to use whatever you wish, but when you start making statements inferring DSD works the same way as the chemicals option then I need to set the record straight and inform you that it does not.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

I will be needing more soon.