punie Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 hi guys! Finally! My turn to ask some questions and for advice! I'm pretty tired of using fert tabs, and am looking for an alternative to the commercial base ferts as they cost way to much for a tub. I see many gardening shops around but can never recognise which substrates would be suitable for a planted tank. Whats a good fertiliser to use? One that wouldn't leach into my tank (some do even after adding a thick layer of gravel over it) and would be good for underwater plants? I see many around, slow release etc etc but am never certain. Anyone got experience in this? Must say i'm a newbie when it comes to making my own fert. Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OziOscar Posted August 12, 2004 Share Posted August 12, 2004 You might want to try a search on this forum against the word "substrate" or even "duplarit". :D There is a lot of discussion about this topic from late last year and early this year and there haven't been a whole lot of changes since then. :D Lots of good info - got me started right. Cheers - OziOscar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtchye Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Hi, I've used Manutec Fern Spikes slow release with a lot of success with heavy root feeders like swords. I use maybe 1/4 of a spike put right into the roots as deep as I can in the substrate. I do use a pretty fine gravel (1mm) and have about 10cm of it but have never tested to see if the spikes leach alot or not. The swords with spikes certainly grow a lot better than those without, and it works for Nymphaea and other such root feeders too. Good when you are lazy with daily dosing like I am, and run the tank on a low to nil nutrient balance... HTH Vincent p.s. You can get them in the garden section of Big W. I chose the fern spikes because the NPK ratio had the lowest P, but there are a few other varieties there that I might try with a higher level of P, as some US aquarists have been having good success with more P in low nutrient tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 I also use Manutec fern spikes (Big W $2.98 for 20 pieces) and can also confirm that they definately work for root feeders. Like Vincent, I also break off a 1/4 or 1/3 of a piece and bury it in 3mm gravel. Not sure if it leaches into the water column, but I would say not. Definately gives a lift to crypts, swords and nymphea (lotus). Anyone else ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nornicle Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 yah im a manutec user too DONT use vermiculite ... its a real PITA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punie Posted August 17, 2004 Author Share Posted August 17, 2004 Thanks for all the help and replies guys. Currently i'm using a commercial root tab, but i was trying to deviate from the hassles of inserting a tab each time i shift a plant (which is very very often!) So i embarked on a quest to find the best base fertiliser in terms of performance and costs. So far the best i've gatehred is laterite, which isn't really common commercially unless i decide to go 'harvest' some from the hills around my place, which quite frankly i'm leaving as a last resort (talk about stealing a piece of australia! ) Will keep manutec in mind. Am even toying with the idea of bringing in 'powersoil' sorta like the ADA ones, gravel with fert all in 1. But i'm wondering hows the response.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OziOscar Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 The quick and easy (but not cheap) laterite solution is Duplarit G and then re-dosing with Duplarit K. Just make sure you pre-mix it into the substrate before filling with water, and then only in the lower layers else you will have some lovely, expensive red mud in suspension. I found Duplarit G works well, but it does need follow-up with K else the initial success does not continue. Cheers - OziOscar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nornicle Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 well i 'seeded' with relatively 'cheap' Aqamedic 'Terralit' which is basically a slow release clay based fert that i found is not too bad for my crypts, I still stick a tab under neath all my favourite crypts etc though. you can get it in 5kg buckets for around $100??? (dunno for sure) which is MORE than enough to do a 4X2X2 im not too sure its worth the hassle to get any power soils etc, plus customs would be a real PITA to get past Regards Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punie Posted August 17, 2004 Author Share Posted August 17, 2004 The way i figured, powersoil is a manufactured packaged air tight product. Not some soil that's ripped off the ground, thus customs should have no problems with that.. i hope.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OziOscar Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Packaged or not they are likely to have a conniption owing to the probable microbial load... Check it out before you ship to avoid disapointment / confiscation / prosecution. Cheers - OziOscar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nornicle Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 whether or not its air tight, its still 'soil' and that normally fills customs with dread and all manner of threats ... you should how they anal they get about mud stains on boxes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bijengum Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 whether or not its air tight, its still 'soil' and that normally fills customs with dread and all manner of threats ... you should how they anal they get about mud stains on boxes.... They get "anal" for a very good reason. Have you ever seen what something like foot and mouth can do to the livestock industry. Cast your mind back to the piles of burning animals in the UK a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Does anyone know of a source for red soil (laterite) in Sydney ? So far we've talked about subtrate fertilizers, What do people use for fertilizing the water column ? Any cheap options that work ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nornicle Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 indeed, i didnt mean to sound flippant, being an Agri-nation we do have to be damn careful about what we bring in and what comes in like said in an earlier post, Dinosaur Pee is good and cheap, I prefer flourish or you can make your own PMDD (Poor Man's Dupla Drops) there are plenty of DIY sites on the net just do a search on PMDD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punie Posted August 18, 2004 Author Share Posted August 18, 2004 i totally understand with all the rules and regulations. But hey, at the end of the day its the consumers that lose out. But i guess it needs to be done to protect this agri-nation! Thanks for all the replies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHL Posted August 21, 2004 Share Posted August 21, 2004 Does anyone know of a source for red soil (laterite) in Sydney ? So far we've talked about subtrate fertilizers, What do people use for fertilizing the water column ? Any cheap options that work ? There are hillsides on the way up the Pacific Hwy to the Central Coast that are rich in laterite. As for the liquids, PMDD if you are handy with mixing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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