Fertiliser

[jrc693]

Hi!

I wasn't sure where to post this because I only have limited access at this point,

But I wanted to ask,

I currently have a 38 litre tank im starting up, (ill put up a journal some time) and i have started hc carpet,

Im using diy co2 at this stage and have 3 11w t5 lights,

I want to carpet to grow out before i put shrimp in but is there a fertiliser i can use that will not be hurtful to the shrimp when i am to introduce them later on?

Thanks!

[Triggs]

Most shrimp keepers posts I've read that use fertilizers tend to use SeaChem flourish. Not the excel kind just the normal flourish.

With that said, I've personally stopped using any fertilizers in my tank at the suggestion of people with far more experience than myself. And the benefits for the shrimp are very easy to see, And with no ill effects on my plants.

However, The plants I have are low maintenance as they do not really require co2 or fertilizers really.

Most of the keepers I read/speak too tend not to use either co2 or fertilizers in their shrimp tanks.

But this really depends weather you care more about the health of your plants, or the health of your shrimp. It's really a personal choice.

Species also come into it, I mean Cherries for instance will have a much better chance of accepting the conditions of a tank with co2 and fertilizers than what CRS would.

It basically comes down to the 3 types of tanks I tend to see around;

1. The 'shrimps come first' tanks. Which usually consist of maybe some mosses, Anubias, hornworts, Java fern and other low maintenance plants. Either lots or minimal amounts. That have neither co2 or fertilizers and are set up to meet the needs of the Shrimp.

2. The 'plants are what I want' tanks, Which are usually your high maintenance plants that require high lighting, co2 and fertilizers that are decked out with beautiful plants and scapes. These tend to have lower grade CRS or most commonly just Cherry shrimp.

3. The 'balanced' tanks, Which tend to have plants that will survive on minimal co2 and basic ferts and have Cherries or A grade CRS (example)

Many people with high grades or rare shrimps tend not to have co2 or fertz. And those who want to breed their stock up don't either. But if you're just after a nice show piece for the middle of the lounge basic low maintenance plants can look very nice if set up a certain way. Or you can have it with plants that will survive with minimal co2 and fertz.

The choice is really up to you on what you're after, want, and looking for.

[Sprae]

+1 to what Triggs said! He's covered my thoughts too.

But as you only want to establish plants without shrimps, fertilise away! Once the plants are established, just do a few 50% WC before adding any shrimps.

[jrc693]

Thanks for the reply guys!

Yeh thats my plan sprae, I just want to grow a hc carpet and get it established first because i have some unused around. all the other plants are all mosses, there are crypt in the tank but if that requires a lot of co2 i will move it to my other tank.

I just want to get the carpet established then hopefully the light will be able to just maintain it?

I am aiming to make a scape that will have some kind of aesthetic appeal to it, I will probably first put RCS into it to start off but when i get a good grasp on shrimp keeping i am planning on keeping CRS.

[Loach]

Suddenly stopping fertilizer and Co2 will probably cause inbalances making huge algae blooms depending on your level of light. Maybe go for easier carpeting plants that dont require fertiliser, Co2 nor high light like Staurogyne Tropica that look equally as nice but way less care :)