Good value plant supplements

Non puffer freshwater discussion. Don't tell your puffers, they'll be jealous!
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Good value plant supplements

Post by bertie 83 »

What do you guys use. I'm a bit bored of low concentrate ferts. With my OCD waterchanges it's getting expensive. Now I could drop my wc regime a little but I am not willing to do that. I have temporarily cut down tank numbers and rehomed a lot of the fish I rehomed over the years including my dps which I was very sad to see go. They went to a work colleague and have a massive tank with so much to do and explore, he has got them for his autistic son who fell in love with them, I couldn't say no. so back to the point lol. I am after high quality and good value.needs to dose around 350g hopefully for less than £20 per month. Thanks guys and gals
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
J-P
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5626
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:21 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Japan
Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by J-P »

have you checked out any dry ferts?
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by Pufferpunk »

You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by bertie 83 »

I saw some but tbh don't know enough to know if they are good or not. Plants aren't my thing. I love them but currently use expensive stuff which I don't even know if it's much cop. I need a little guidance. They are the ones you stick in the gravel right? I gravel vac 3x weekly so may suck it out? Basically I don't have a clue. I want to continue keeping plants but want to spend less. Are there undemanding plants that don't need specialist lighting and grow nicely without too much added? I want to save £2000 for my new setup so need to save some ££££s here and there
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
Flutter
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2938
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:43 pm
Location (country): Canada

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by Flutter »

We use dry, it's so much cheaper.
It is absurd to talk of one animal being higher than another. We consider those, when the cerebral structure/intellectual faculties most developed, as highest. A bee doubtless would when the instincts were.
Charles Darwin
User avatar
Puffer King
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 378
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:38 am
My Puffers: Colomesus asellus
Lilly the Fahaka
Dwarf Puffers
Figure 8
Have kept in past,
Spotted congos
Red eye red tailed puffer
Location (country): Bristol , UK

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by Puffer King »

get your c02 from an old fire extinguisher , that'll save you a few quid
'Rare do Tom agree in the rated room with the retard moo ! '
Free Elf Girl Pun 2012
User avatar
J-P
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5626
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:21 am
Gender: Male
Location (country): Japan
Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by J-P »

A well planted tank could cost you as much as a coral tank.. research dry ferts from you local hydroponics store and from there you can mix and match.

EI (estimative indexing) is a great tool that you can tweak and adjust. It is an excel spread sheet so you can play with the numbers.

OR..

do what works, and those plants that don't... ditch them...
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
User avatar
sevenyearnight
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1894
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous
Location (country): USA
Location: South Carolina

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by sevenyearnight »

Here are a couple of dry ferts you should be able to buy locally for very cheap:

For nitrogen, Stump Remover is KNO3
http://www.spectracide.com/Products-and ... mover.aspx
For Potassium, Morton Salt Substitute is KCI
http://www.mortonsalt.com/products/food ... lt_sub.htm
Image
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by bertie 83 »

Will check them out thanks for the ideas guys
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by bertie 83 »

Does anyone use DIY co2 systems? I have built one but unsure if I should use it or not. Any input would be awesome
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by Pufferpunk »

You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
Puffer King
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 378
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:38 am
My Puffers: Colomesus asellus
Lilly the Fahaka
Dwarf Puffers
Figure 8
Have kept in past,
Spotted congos
Red eye red tailed puffer
Location (country): Bristol , UK

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by Puffer King »

bertie 83 wrote:Does anyone use DIY co2 systems? I have built one but unsure if I should use it or not. Any input would be awesome
C02 certainly boosts growth , you can tell the difference in days ....whats your set up..any pics ??
'Rare do Tom agree in the rated room with the retard moo ! '
Free Elf Girl Pun 2012
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by bertie 83 »

Love it pp thank you. Just thinking if I run co2 and a good fert I could have an awesome planted tank, I would use very low fert dose and save £££s. Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by bertie 83 »

I have several setups, most just have decorations. Plants ( healthy) are a new thing to me. I don't want to keep buying to replace dying ones or spend tons on ferts. To cap everything off I have had the worst news anyone can have, so on top of working a full time job, running my own business I have mass stress. So I want to keep lots of plants and leave my wife minimal care on my fish tanks, I feel having plants should reduce maintenance slightly. The small tanks are no hassle , the big two will need some help tho. I can deal with the 2 biggies just need a way of reducing my OCD on the small ones, lots of plants may help. If anything it will reduce arguments.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Good value plant supplements

Post by Pufferpunk »

I have really great luck with anubias. Started with one bunch & now have enough for 4 tanks: 90g, 125g, 46g & 20g, all full of the stuff.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Post Reply