Journal First high tech setup.

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I haven’t been great at dosing tbh. I’m also not sure which fertilizer to dose and on what schedule. I have the following:
Flourish
Flourish excel
UNS plant food 0-0-9.1
Apt 1
Apt3
Apt e
Easy green
Leaf zone (api)
API c02 booster

just realized I had a kh kit, not sure I understand the directions but it took 4 drops to get yellow

My advice would be to stick with 50-60% weekly water changes. Dose the incoming water at a rate of 1mL of APT 3 per every 1-2 gallons of new incoming water. This is "front loading" your nutrients each week, and it's a pretty simple/surefire way to make sure your plants get everything they need. That's what I'd do in your position!

 

[Koan]

Update here!

View attachment 1000050865.mp4

 

[CincyScaper]

Tank looks great!

APT products are great and highly recommend them. I am sure @Dennis Wong will comment.

My 2 cents for what is worth is that it does not matter what liquid fertilizer you dose, all that matters is you are consistent with what you dose, has all key ingredients (unless going down ADA way) and with the water change %. I would pick a tank/aquarist whose work you like and just copy what they do and don’t change it. Lot of options in this forum to follow.

I did APT1 followed by APT3 with APT feast aquasoil which you can read in my journal. Came with its struggles and in a good spot now (not perfect which will never happen)

 

[CincyScaper]

I really like the sword's colors on the left side. Do you know what species/variety it is?

If you have 0-1 KH in your tank, the Hanna test kit is usually over-estimating your CO2 injection. You might be injecting closer to 20 or 18ppm potentially, which might not be enough for the light levels you're providing. Also, your plants need food! When plants starve, they grow algae. How much fertilizer are you dosing each week?

I think it is Reni Sword (echinodorus Reni), saw it recently in my LFS and wrote it down as a must get plant for the next scape.

 

[Wildwhimsy]

Will adding ferts once a week like Rocco suggested cause my nitrates to be too high?

 

[JacksonL]

Will adding ferts once a week like Rocco suggested cause my nitrates to be too high?

Only if you add too much!
The idea behind front loading fertiliser, is you set your nitrate levels, then allow the plants to use it throughout the week, then you mix fertilisers into your incoming water change water to keep the level as consistent as possible.

It prevents the big drop in nitrates and other nutrients after water changes, caused by the new water being nutrient poor.

 

[Wildwhimsy]

Ok that makes sense. I need to calculate my water volume first, also should I check nitrates before doing the water change and starting this new routine or will it not matter?

 

[JacksonL]

Ok that makes sense. I need to calculate my water volume first, also should I check nitrates before doing the water change and starting this new routine or will it not matter?

It won’t hurt to know. Be mindful that not all nitrate tests are created equal, and some such as API can be quite inconsistent.

Testing before the water change, the day after and then again at the end of the week before your next water change is a good way to find out what’s going on in your water and begin adjusting your fertiliser dose.
Here is a good thread from the creator of APT on testing to adjust dosing. It is regarding daily dosing, rather than front loading but the information still applies to front loading!

Thread 'Stable nutrient dosing using hobbyist test kits'

Mar 2, 2026

This is an extension/excerpt from the longer nutrient stability article and why it matters :

Why nutrient level stability matters for planted aquariums

Nutrient stability in planted aquariums - how to have stable nutrient levels and why it is important. Avoid triggering algae and tip stunting.

www.2hraquarist.com

I have added a portion and simple guide for folks that are using hobbyist test kits to dial in their levels:

To have stable nutrient levels, the goal is to have the same visual shade of color when using a nitrate test kit on your aquarium at any time of the week.

To do this, you...

• Dennis Wong
• Replies: 31
• Forum: Fertilizing and Aquarium Chemistry

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[Wildwhimsy]

Be mindful that not all nitrate tests are created equal, and some such as API can be quite inconsistent.

Is there a nitrate test that’s reliable? I currently have the api master test kit (which I’ll use today before doing the water change) but I’d love to invest in reliable tests.

 

[Koan]

I’d love to invest in reliable tests.

Here's @Naturescapes_Rocco 's review of the available liquid tests:

Resource Thread 'Are your test kits actually accurate? Testing test kits: Salifert Freshwater NO3, PO4, and K.'

Jul 8, 2025

Results/summary will be near the bottom of this post!​

I've tried API, Sera, and Salifert test kits for a while now, and I found that I "liked" using the Salifert kits the most. The test kits usually aligned with my observations of plant health and algae growth. Remember, healthy plants don't grow algae, and plants can't be healthy if they don't have every single element available to them in some form. If I have a decrease or issue with CO2 injection, I get staghorn/hair algae on my plants. If I bottom out on NO3, I get hair algae or cyanobacteria on the...

• Naturescapes_Rocco
• Replies: 14
• Forum: Fertilizing and Aquarium Chemistry

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I use the Hanna Marine High Range Nitrate colorimiter test, adjusted for fresh water

Journal Post in thread 'Greggz 120G Rainbow Fish Tank - Part Deux!'

Mar 23, 2026

I'd like to test my tank

how do you find deciphering the colour changes using salifert

I've also been getting a better handle on nutrient stability. Going over to the Hanna High Range Marine Nitrate Colorimeter has been a really positive experience.

Pricey, but goes on sale often + generally half price used on eBay

The saltwater conversion is straightforward :

Nitrate Meter

Has anyone tried the Hanna nitrate meter in fresh water? I know it’s supposed to be for salt water only, but there are a few anecdotes out there that suggest the meter might work in fresh water. Here’s a quote from a review on Amazon for the high range tester. “I bought this not knowing it...

www.plantedtank.net

I drop the reagent into 17 ml of tank water, using one of these



Just for fun I run the two minute...

• Koan

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[Wildwhimsy]

My advice would be to stick with 50-60% weekly water changes. Dose the incoming water at a rate of 1mL of APT 3 per every 1-2 gallons of new incoming water.

Question with this. I’m going to start doing this using distilled water, from my understanding I will need to adjust gh/kh and ph of distilled water? How do I figure out what those parameters need to be to ensure I’m adding good water?