Hi-Tec heavily planted aquariums

[Brentwillmers]

Hi 

has anyone found a trusted method of using fertilizers in planted tanks that require heavy dosing without raising TDS to extream levels. I am finding single doses of micro's or macro's could tip TDS value into the mid to high 300's. 

Before I got shrimp I had a religious dosing routine which followed the Tom Barr method of heavy dosing of macros and micros for every day for 6 days and major water change on day 7 to reset your parameters. 

The seachem Aquavitro range I found to be the best and have had great success in growing great looking plants, but has its fall backs like raising TDS to high levels. 

I am keen to know how others have found the perfect line of ferts Vs TDS  

 

 

[jayc]

Sorry to say it, but, no. You cannot maintain a heavy dosing regime of fertilisers while keeping TDS at levels required for shrimp.

The only way to maintain low TDS is to swap the plants for low light plants, and reduce or stop fertilisers all together.

My shrimp tanks are all mosses, subwassertangs, ferns and Anubis.

[Brentwillmers]

Thanks Jayc 

I was hoping there would have been some miracle fertilizers or dosing ideas that helps keep a healthy relationship with TDS. 

Takashi ammno did super well with Ammno shrimp and planted tanks dosing ADA fertilizers. Looks like I got some serious experimenting to do or get a second tank and divorce papers. haha

[jayc]

3 hours ago, Brentwillmers said:

or get a second tank and divorce papers. haha

LOL.

Try reducing ferts. If TDS is super high, than you gotta question if the plants are using it all up?

 

[Brentwillmers]

started having a play with fertilizers I have and distilled water with a TDS of 0 and temp of 23.5 degrees.  

Interesting results.

Aquavitro range: 

propel Fe hit the TDS the most upped from a single dose from 0-10 

synthesis N and flourish are the same results 0-8 

activate P 0-3 

flourish excel, stability and remediation kept TDS at 0 for a single dose. 

I am also finding injected Co2 has also played a small part in raising my TDS. I keep it around 28mg/L mark and it raised my TDS by 3.  

Will play around with it a bit more. 

[Zebra]

On 21/01/2017 at 0:12 AM, Brentwillmers said:

Hi 

has anyone found a trusted method of using fertilizers in planted tanks that require heavy dosing without raising TDS to extream levels. I am finding single doses of micro's or macro's could tip TDS value into the mid to high 300's. 

Before I got shrimp I had a religious dosing routine which followed the Tom Barr method of heavy dosing of macros and micros for every day for 6 days and major water change on day 7 to reset your parameters. 

The seachem Aquavitro range I found to be the best and have had great success in growing great looking plants, but has its fall backs like raising TDS to high levels. 

I am keen to know how others have found the perfect line of ferts Vs TDS  

 

 

In short can't be dont, tds = total dissolves salts or solids, Aquarium ferts are salts.

You just have to find a balance that both the fish and plants appreciate, without algae growth, one of the main concerns for shrimp is the level of trace elements we add, and No3 and P04.

Diy ferts on PPS pro daily system is the way to go imo, Just need the test kits, I couldn't afford to buy bottles of ferts from the lfs.

nice tank btw.

Edited July 9, 2017 by Zebra

[Zoidburg]

Amano shrimp are typically pretty hardy as far as shrimp go...

 

Your best bet would probably be to go with products meant for a shrimp tank... such as ThriveS, BorneoWild Lush, SL-Aqua Shrimp Tank Plant Fertilizer, or perhaps Shrimpernet's line of products?

 

I don't know what you have available to you, but I have heard of good things about ThriveS, from someone using it in a tank that's between low tech (sand substrate with tap water) and high tech (CO2 and light). Shrimp tank with ferts. He was previously using NilocG standard EI ferts, and changed to the ThriveS formula. Didn't notice a change in plant growth, but said that the TDS doesn't go through the roof like it does with the standard ferts. In his words...

 

Quote

I do not have exact numbers but I now have a MUCH easier time keeping the tds under 200 by using ThriveS compared to the standard EI Ferts. In addition to the lower tds by using the ThriveS but also is much easier to keep the nitrates and phosphates low. Its much easier to keep the Nitrates under 10 and Phosphates under 1 as in fact you have to Overdose ThriveS to go above those numbers. Reason being is they have a lower amount per dose than say your standard EI. Perfect for a Shrimp tank.

To give you an example it was required to do a 10% wc for me each week to keep the tds under 200. But now my tds is never over 180 since using the ThriveS. AGain I think a big reason is due to the lower macro levels dosing the ThriveS compared to standard EI. I am sure I could of cut down Macros from 1/2 EI twice a week to 1/4 EI twice a week and get close to the same results? And then do the same with the Micros. But instead of worrying about that I just do half the ThriveS recommended dosage twice a week and call it good. Here are the NPK numbers for the DIY Liquid EI compared to the ThriveS. 

ThriveS N 0.43%, P 0.062%, K 4.75%
DIY Liquid EI N 7.5ppm, P 1.3ppm, K 4.27ppm

 

I don't know how the other shrimp tank ferts compare, but have heard that Lush is wonderful, and someone else has loved SL-Aqua TM-1, which isn't exactly a fert (contains trace elements), but can help plants to absorb nutrients.