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Flourish or Media?

2K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
I landscape in the summer to help pay for college and we use a planting media when we put our plants into the ponds we build. I used it in our ciclid and our piranah tank, and the one problem is when we clean the gravel it pulls up the media and then its all over the gravel. This is especially unpleasant to the eye for the piranah since we have white gravel on the bottom. I read about flourish and was wondering if I use that can I just put it in the gravel and throw that in?
 
#2 ·
Are you referring to the substrate material made by Seachem in the "Flourish" line, called Flourite? Or the actual Flourish liquid fertilizer? I'll answer on both to save time.

Flourite is an enriched substrate (similar to Eco-Complete and possibly others) that can be used on its own or as a layer under or mixed with gravel. On its own it is excellent as it is black and replicates a Tropical stream or forest floor; I believe there is a "brick red" type too that looks nice in SE Asian streams that frequently have an iron- coloured substrate. It can also be mixed with dark gravels. With "white" gravel this would not look so nice mixed, and if placed under the gravel I suspect it would mix in time, especially with substrate-moving fish.

Flourish is a line of liquid nutrient fertilizers that are added to the aquarium water once a week or more depending upon the setup and product. Flourish Comprehensive is a complete fertilizer and all you need in low-tech natural-type setups with the majority of aquarium plants. Any regular gravel can be used as the substrate as this product has no connection.

I have read authors who do not recommend using pond substrate materials in enclosed aquaria. I've never tried this so I can't say it has issues, but it may, even though they have not yet come to light for you.

Byron.
 
#3 ·
Flourish that liquid stuff. Thanks for your response. I've used that media in the ciclid tank and it's been fine. So it is definitely ok for me to just use gravel and stick the plant in the gravel with no other substrate and use that liquid stuff? I've kept fish for a while but havnt really tried live plants so sorry if I get annoying lol.
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#4 ·
Flourish that liquid stuff. Thanks for your response. I've used that media in the ciclid tank and it's been fine. So it is definitely ok for me to just use gravel and stick the plant in the gravel with no other substrate and use that liquid stuff? I've kept fish for a while but havnt really tried live plants so sorry if I get annoying lol.
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You are not annoying. This forum exists so we can ask questions of each other and all of us can learn. I have learned a lot since joing almost 2 years ago.

Yes, plain gravel works fine. Depending upon the types of plants, Flourish Comprehensive once or twice a week (max) will provide the nutrients, then there is the light that must be balanced (duration for the available nutrients, or algae will take over) and adequate in spectrum and intensity.

Byron.
 
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#6 ·
I got 2 peacock ferns and an argentinian sword in my tank. Instead of flourish (pet store was out) I got tetra plant's flora pride. On the back it said it is a compliment to substrate fertilizers. I'm assuming I need to get something else as well. Right?
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#7 ·
Florapride is only iron and potassium if im not mistaken, flourish has almost all the minerals required, not just iron and potassium so you need to find other forms of fertilization to compliment it, i usually only use my florapride when i see an iron deficiency since excess iron is poisonous if too much builds up.
 
#8 ·
Agree. Flourish Comprehensive is my first choice, second would be Nutrafin's Plant-Gro which while not containing everything (as Flourish does) it has the essentials and seems to do the job. It would pay to order Flourish Comprehensive online if unavailable locally; you use so little it lasts a long time. The larger sized bottles/jugs save money long-term.
 
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