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No Fert ?

5K views 35 replies 11 participants last post by  xxabc 
#1 ·
I was recommended a certain fert, bought at Petsmart. However, the ones around me do not carry it. I called Petco, and they don't have any better brands. I'm still planning on those plants (guess what, my dad is considering sweetsaquatics.com!), but I'm fearful without the fertilizer.

What would happen without the fertilizer? Should I REALLY go crazy and search everywhere for a good one? Unlikely with the chance, though. Should I succumb to one of the lesser fertilizers? I believe it was API Plant Food (?) and Tetra Flora-Pride (?). The Flora-Pride is apparently different from the website, so I'll look at that.

If I ask to buy one online, it is a huge gamble. My dad may get mad and call off the plants. Or not. (But I don't want to spend anymore money with shipping myself, either).

Thank you~
 
#3 ·
Yes, I've heard that, however the fish waste does not contain all the "nutrients" it needs - so I've been told- , and I only have two bettas in the 5 gallon (divided), so I'm afraid it won't be enough.
 
#4 ·
I looked up Tetra Florapride online, and it seems like it only majors in Iron and...something else, I believe potassium.

However, there are tablets(?) as well, but would these be helpful with stem plants?
 
#7 ·
First on what plants do need: 17 nutrients, of which 13 are mineral. Some of these will occur from fish food and fish waste and organics breaking down via bacteria in the substrate. Carbon (as CO2) and nitrogen (as ammonia/ammonium) come from the fish and biological actions in the aquarium. Others might be present in your tap water and will be replenished during the weekly partial water change; I'm thinking mainly calcium and magnesium here, these are the minerals that determine the hardness of water so the degree of hardness of your tap water will indicate if these are present.

Without knowing all the above, it is difficult to say whether you will or will not definitely need a good liquid fertilizer. Most of us find we do need it, but it varies depending upon all those things and from aquarium to aquarium. Plant the aquarium and observe the plants; they will show signs of nutrient deficiency if something is lacking, and if you are at that point able to buy a good fertilizer, they will recover.

As for the fertilizers themselves, not all are good. Root tabs work well with substrate rooted plants, and less so with stem plants. For plants that root on wood and rock (like Anubias, Java Fern, Java Moss) or floating plants, substrate fertilizer will be useless.

Liquid fertilizers are the best overall, as all plants can use them. Nutrients come from the water, assimilated via the plant roots and in some the leaves as well. The liquid has to be a comprehensive one providing most of what the plants need that is likely to be missing from the water, fish food, etc. I mentioned above. Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive is good, I use it. I do not recommend the API Leaf Zone nor the Tetra because they are not complete. There are some others, if you can tell me what is available at your stores I can comment.

Byron.
 
#9 ·
What I'm afraid is that, when I get all my plants and I find out I DO need fert, what would I do then? I like to take preventative methods first.

The Flourish Comprehensive is only online, and I called my petsmarts. They only sell the API.

I could buy them, but I'm just plain fearful for them as well. I wouldn't want them dying on me.
 
#10 ·
I believe your plants will be perfectly fine a few weeks without fertilizer. My java moss is growing quite a bit in my 44g with babies that I don't fertilize. Permanently, you might want fertilizer, but I think if you end up with your plants before you get fertilizer, they will be perfectly fine for a few weeks. Might have minimal growth though.
 
#11 ·
Ha, a bit opposite of what I expected. I would've thought the first parts were the crucial ones. I guess not then. So I'll work on getting those plants in. Again, I will probably end up succumbing to the API Leaf Food from Petsmart, as I heard the better reviews from that one. Hopefully it will work out..
 
#12 ·
If you can, I would really try and get the Flourish Comprehensive. As Byron stated, the tetra brand fertilizer is incomplete. You can order it online from here : I bought the big jug and I just fill up my mini bottle when needed, should last quite a while! but I would really try and get ahold of some Flourish Comprehensive. Just my two cents though.

I use Flourish Comprehensive as well as Seachem root tabs (recommended by byron, I think). I have the root tabs planted near my swords in my tanks, as well as my other rooted plants. Between those (which last for months) and the flourish liquid fert, my tank is growing like bananas. I dose once a week with flourish comp, a day after my pwc....

are you not a fan of ordering online or something?
 
#14 ·
I would LOVE to order online. I'm not allowed to, I'm under my parents rule and the "Keep your grades high sldkfjgkjsaldsj." That kind of thing, you know? But I would love Seachem.

Redchigh, I will "only" have 2 nerite snails, and 2 betta fish. Would this be enough with their fish poop and respiration and all that jazz? I'm just...worried. Paranoid. I don't want $12 of plants going down the drain (lol, I know it's not a lot).
 
#15 ·
There's really a few things you got to consider here for good plant growth:
1) What plants (names) did you order/ get??
2) Do you have proper lights for the plants (w/out proper lights ferts will really not cut it for thriving plants)

Last but not least nutrition plants need also are found in most tap / well waters plus the co2 from fish plus their waste. Either you get a comprehensive fert as mentioned by previous posters or you see how your plants thrive w/out ferts and watch for signs such as yellowing leaves or pin holes in the leaf. If you look at my tanks here for example all these run w/out ferts, w/out co2 just my fish and water & lights http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/postBitTanks.php?userid=1029
 
#16 ·
I didn't order yet, I want to be more prepared until I order. (Plus one plant I want is out of stock, still).

Anubias nana, pennywort, rosaefolia, ludwigia repens. The light is a 10W compact fluorescent over a 5 gallon that will house 2 bettas and 2 nerite snails [also to order from SA]
 
#21 ·
Here's his plant list B.

Anubias nana, pennywort, rosaefolia, ludwigia repens. The light is a 10W compact fluorescent over a 5 gallon that will house 2 bettas and 2 nerite snails [also to order from SA]

I would really try and convince your dad to let your order on-line if you're having no luck finding anything local. Where do you live exactly??
 
#17 ·
I'm still looking for a decent comprehensive fert but I'm at a loss WHERE to get them (not online anymore. Dad kinda got a little p/o'ed so that's out of it ... ). Petsmart kinda failed on me, lol, and Petco didn't have it to begin with. I need to check the Walmart near me, I haven't been there in weeks (believe it or not).
 
#18 ·
A question for those who don't use ferts - What is your substrate? Should've mentioned this, but I'm running off the plain aquarium gravel. Without ANY substrate / ferts, and with my details, would it really be okay? I'm running off really paranoid, and again, I don't want $20 down the drain. And thanks for all the current help so far~

I understand the 17-nutrients. The problem is: i'm not sure if I have all those nutrients between my tap (I don't have a test kit), fish, and fish foods. What would really be bad if I hardly have anything in my tap.
 
#19 ·
Regular aquarium-type gravel is fine for plants. The smaller sizes work best; if it is too large (the size of green peas for instance, more like small pebbles) it can trap food and also not allow plant roots to "root". There is an incredible colony of bacteria that live (or should live) in the substrate, and small-grain gravel seems to work best for this too. I use regular gravel, and I do have substrate fertilizer sticks next to the larger sword plants, but for years I didn't and they grew fine. But they do need liquid fertilizer, swords are termed heavy feeders because they are relatively large robust plants that need nutrients.

It really is hard to determine how well plants will do without liquid fertilizer. Some have success, others don't. You did mention API Leaf Zone, do any of the stores in your area have any other liquid plant fertilizers? If you give me the names, I might be able to suggest the best one for you.

Byron.
 
#20 ·
I went around town today, and nothing off the original list I gave you. One was good, but no longer sold here (Whaaaat...) and the other two seem useless. Saw them at Petsmart, and it only held 2 nutrients. Same with Petco, only had the Tetra brand. Next time I go to Walmart, I'll tell you what I see. But has anybody here bought any fert from Walmart, because I'm highly doubtful about it.
 
#22 ·
Telephone Walmart and ask for the name of the plant fertilizer(s) they have. May save you a trip.

Anubias is a slow growing plant, and may be OK without fertilizer. The others are stem plants, they are going to need nutrients as they are fast growing plants (all stem plants are). Depending upon what Walmart has, I would at this point go with the Tetra Flora-Pride; but Walmart may have something better.

Byron.
 
#23 ·
xxabc, if you do not have any plants yet start with only one. You will also have to trust the plant growth. I do understand your situation but start very slowly by one and see how it grows. Yes at the start you might see some brown leaves but soon will see some new growth. If at the end you really see you need some fertiliser, get some.
 
#24 ·
Alright. Thanks a bunch guys, this is really helpful.

The shipping for me and sweetaquatics (my dad likes the price) is about $8. I know he will not let me buy a $2 plant with $8 shipping ($10 total) and then $10 plants with $8 shipping (+$18 total). I'm trying to find some decent plants local to me to start out with, but geeeeeez, Petsmart plants were scary!

I'm begging to buy online, I really am. (My first choice would be Seachem Fluorish). It's gone down to "choose this or that." Or really, "If I have to also buy that, then no." I'm thinking of getting the plants, and buying the to-be-decided fert (Byron, if you really recommend Tetra FloraPride as of now, then I'll end up getting it. I'll be going by you guy's words). I'll call Walmart in a few and tell what they say.

Again, thanks so much, you've all been a super helpful bunch :)
 
#25 ·
One more last thing, i did meet someone at work here and mentioned to me he was part of a local Aquarist club. They do meet and exchange some plants. once in a while they auction some fish. Probably you could look for a local club in your area and you never know, probably you could end up with some free plants even fish.
 
#26 ·
So, I called Walmart, and they have nothing, sadly.

But geez, interesting call. I got transfered 4 or so times...it got a bit annoying?
"Hi, Welcome to Walmart, how can I help you?"
"I need some liquid fertilizer please, should be found in pet care section?"
*is not transferred*
...
*is transferred to lawn care section*
...
*is apparently transferred to lawn care section, or something of similar name*

Some guy, finally kind enough after knowing I got transferred like 5 times, manually goes and just checks for me. Turns out they don't have any, but he seemed out of breath, hahaha.

But yeah~
 
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