I have a 14.5g (54.8l) tank and currently have Trelmix for micro traces but I was wondering what components is neccessary for a successful low light planted tank. Trelmix contains: Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Mo and Mg I'm considering getting scape liquid carbon. Do I have the neccessary elements?
Hayibo. You need to read this - http://www.apsa.co.za/xenforo/faq/fertilizing.4/category Macro EI is just as important as micro EI (Trelmix is for that purpose only). Go and read that link I posted - it will help you have a better understanding of how to dose and what and where and why. Then go to this link and read first post - EI for Dummies - http://www.apsa.co.za/xenforo/threads/ei-for-dummies.6142/ - this link has helped me a lot. Might be a bit of Greek to you but you'll get it eventually. I did.
@Clare i might get some caps with oscomote from @Nathanael so that should be my macro traces than i'm sorted I hope. Great read and if the next 3-4 months doesnt go according to plan I will follow the link. Awesome assitance and straightforward to follow using trail and error method
You really need to do some research first. First of all, some plants do not take nutrients by root - some are water column feeders. Specially ferns as they don't go into the gravel - they have to go on either wood or stones. Otherwise the rhizomes will rot. Same thing with anubias, bolbitus and bucephalandra. That's why some of us dose with EI, root tabs for heavy root feeders like crypts who will benefit a lot from this method as well and then there are the traces which also covers what the EI macro nutrients don't. EI is not expensive and lasts a pretty long time if you dose only once or twice a week. Last time if I remember correctly for 3 tanks, the stuff lasted me at least 6 to 9 months before I had to buy more stuff again. Best place to find information on plants is Aquatic Plant Central and then there's Google if you can't find it on APC.
so the liquid micro traces is for the above mentioned water column feeders. Do I need to get some kind of root tab with micro traces for root feeders such as swords and crypts? also by research do you mean i need to check each plant's desire and than follow in the link to get the required element? I'm trying to do this according to the plant reaction in my tank meaning if the plant goes yellow I want to find out why and than treat it accordingly. this will be my first serious planted tank and a few members told me I cant plan for everything. Got some plants today will see how it go and than post in my thread. Tank is currently cloudy due to rescape I will read up on El and visit dischem to check the prices of the elements. As well as get liquid macro traces from seachem if needed Please comment on anything that you don't agree with, thats how I learn
All the above you can buy at dischem or clicks under diffirent names saltpetre, epsom salts and lenolax will give you all the macros you need, its all I use in my tanks included is picture evidence. Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk
I dose EI 100 ml NPK in the morning and 100 ml TRACE in the evening every single day Monday to Friday Saturday rest Sunday 50% water change.
This depends on how many plants you have to feed. I dose twice a week with both as these are ferns, anubias, buces, bolbitus and crypts which gets osmocote as root feeders Sent from my D5503 using Tapatalk
Thanks guys @f-fish+plants suggested I let the plants get use to my tank before dosing anything. I am looking at Scape carbon liquid, osmocote and NPK from dischem (I am researching before buying, except osmocote as I will store it untill I get more ferns and anubias)
