Help Java Fern and Anubias Fertilization in New Tank

[ScaperHaynes]

Hi all! I've recently set up a 60P and have some Java Fern Trident Mini and Anubias Nanas. I'm not sure whether or not to dose a little NO3 and PO4 into the water column for them, because the general guidance is to not dose the first few months with new aquasoil (Amazonia II).

I understand that the "why" behind this method is to reduce algae problems by keeping these elements mostly in the soil until the plants have matured. However, I've found no guidance on what to do if you have epiphites. Since they tend to be slow to show distress, thought I'd ask before it is too late.

My NO3 is hovering around ~5ppm, and PO4 ~0.5ppm but the test kits are so damn hard to read accurately I don't entirely trust that.

Would appreciate any guidance!

 

[Sb1415]

Hi, there are different approaches and people will chime in soon.

But curious on having epiphytes and aquasoil ? Was that your plan or have you not been able to add other plants yet?

That said, the 2 hr aquarist website is a good resource and he made a post stating that epiphytes do better when they are able to root into the substrate (keeping the rhizomes above the substrate). If you think about it from that approach, the plants should be able to get nutrition from the substrate.

 

[ScaperHaynes]

Guess I should have clarified a bit - the anubias and ferns are not in the soil. They’re attached to the driftwood.

 

[Burr740]

If theyre not in the sub then they have to get their nutrients from the water. Brand new soils will spike the water with NH4 for the first two or three weeks (hence the frequent water change protocol) And probably a small amount for a few more weeks and then nothing because its all in the sub

You will definitely need to provide the full range of nutrients into the water. How much depends largely on whether you have co2 or not, and also light level. But theyre gonna need all of them available in the water.

If you dont run co2 things move a lot slower. A heavy fish load can often provide an adequate amount of all but two things, K and Fe. Eventually youll need those two regardless. With CO2 I personally wouldnt rely on fish load unless the light is really low. Its just not enough of the right things in the right amounts. With strong light, co2 and a light fish load youll want a very rich water column for epiphytes. Oddly enough they need higher levels in the water than fast growing plants do, so think near EI if thats the case

FYI my retail ferts are about to hit the market and are available now on request. I have micros and macros separately, and an all-in-one. Highly efficient and widely adaptable to any type of set up. Guaranteed to grow whatever youre trying to grow in pristine condition, as fast or slow as you want to grow it!

Here are the brief details. Anyone intersted just shoot me a mssg!

Thanks for asking about this. Ive been waiting to list the ferts until retail packaging is ready to roll, that should be done in a couple of weeks. I dont have individual salts, like the MgSO4 you mentioned

What I have is the popular pre-mixed packs of both micros and macros to make your own solution. You just add the entire pack to your dosing container and mix using distilled or RO water

Spoiler: Read More

The micros has Fe DTPA+ Fe Gluconate + other essential micros, formulated for maximum absorption across a wide range of PH levels. Macros has NO3, PO4 and K. Suggested dose for both is 2 ML per 10 gallons 3-4x per week. Micros adds .15 ppm Fe per dose. Macros adds 4.7/1.2/5.5 per dose. Its the same thing I use

Both Macros and Micros are the same price and come in 500 ML, 1000 ML and 1 gallon packs

Packaging currently looks like this. Dosing bottles are $8.99 for 500 ML and $10.99 for 1000 ML

View attachment 8031

1 pack = 1 of either kind. 1 of each would be 2 packs

Spoiler: Price

500 ML
1 pack for $14
2 packs for $28
3 packs for $40
4 packs for $52
5 packs for $63
6 packs for $75

1000 ML
1 pack - $24
2 packs - $47
3 packs - $70
4 packs - $90

1 Gallon (3785 ML)
1 pack - $69
2 packs - $125

The gallon packs are getting popular with folks who've been using the Micros for a while. You jst buy a gallon jug of distilled water and make the mix in that. Then fill your dosing containers as needed from the gallon jug. It gets the price down to almost $10 for 500 ML

On the way also have a med-low energy all-in-one, with both macros and micros. It's designed for lower dosing routines such as rich subs and lean water, heavy fish load and slow growing plants, and specifically Ammania species. Great for low tech too

All this in new packaging is maybe a month away, at which point I'll post it all with the full details. In the meantime anyone interested just shoot me a PM

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