The Puffer Forum

My tanks generally do not require full supplements and I do not use pressurized CO2. But I have a number of tanks to which I add Seachem's Excel (a low-level carbon source, a partial substitute for CO2) and Seachem's Nitrogen* routinely (alternate days) to keep my NPK ratio in the right range. If I do not, I also run too low nitrate. I seem to get enough P and K from feeding and waste and my regular water partials, but N is not always where it should be. I would have to run a lot high bioload than I do to supply the needed nitrogen.

*Do note that this product is not just nitrate. It has some highly complexed ammonia in it as well. If is fully fish-safe. I have been using it since it came on the market a long time ago without any problems.

Ok, I normally use Seachem products anyway, I'm using the excell, comprehensive, and root tabs, but the nitrogen is something I'd have to order.
I'll have to read a bit more on the potassium nitrate, see if I can get some anecdotal information as well.

Find a hydroponics store and you can buy fertilizers. Just fertilize and you won't need to increase the bioload. We use a trace, nitrate, MgSO4, and something else. Silly me can only remember one of the molecular forumlas. We spent $25 and it will probably last us 3 years on a 65gal tank. We do run CO2 but we need to dose our others tanks as well and they aren't heavily stocked and all have plants.

They don't have hydroponic stores like we did out west, I'm very limited on what I can buy locally.
I'm not even certain I can find potassium nitrate/saltpeter here.

Takin down notes from all this for future heavy planted tank .

Forgot to post the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_cNwCAF ... ata_player

That water return is blowing off more CO2 than the plants are getting.

I am too lazy for dry fert additions, but most are pretty easily available on-line and are far less expensive than the Seachem products. My usage is really not that great and the prepared liquids really simplify my life, so I am unlikely to change. After a career in research labs, I'm happy to leave the solution preps and careful weighing to others, so long as they are reliable.

Yes, the fish traveled 2 hours, I raised the nozzle to oxygenate the water for them, it's not normally set to agitate the surface that much.
I forgot to mention that.

Look into: http://www.yamatogreen.com. The owner is quite helpful & will answer all Qs by email or phone.

Ok, thank you

Found potassium nitrate locally, verified the source was pure, following a dosing guide, added it during today's water change.
KH 5°
NO3 5 ppm
I'll test tomorrow morning about the same time to see what was consumed.

arent you worried about all the new fish being eaten once you had the bichir back in?

When Mortimer is better, he might go to live in Fintastic's larger display tanks. Or some of the smaller fish can get traded in. They all have fairly large adult sizes, so Mortimer may live in another tank for a little while. Mortimer is my husband's fish, so it's his call. He has become very fond of the odessa barbs that he picked out. I have been reminding him that Mortimer will eat them in the night.
For now, he just needs to get better.
We also have a move coming up in about a year across the country, we have cats, dogs, ferrets, fish to move, we will have to consolidate a bit.

I moved that baby birchir to my 90g tetra tank. I just don't trust him in with the DPs. I kept going to the tank to be sure there are 2 of them in there!

Pufferpunk wrote:I moved that baby birchir to my 90g tetra tank. I just don't trust him in with the DPs. I kept going to the tank to be sure there are 2 of them in there!

Awww lol