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UKAPS.org

FluidsensorOnline.com is proud to announce the sponsorship of the UK Aquatic Plant Society, a group of like minded enthusiasts dedicated to promoting the UK planted tank scene and all other areas of the aquascaping hobby.
Membership is free and easy to set up, simply join the forum at UKAPS.org

Members include George Farmer, regular writer for Practical Fiskeeping Magazine & Tom Barr, known for his work with the Estimative index and many other areas of the hobby

Tropica Plant Nutrition plus

PLANT NUTRITION⁺ liquid is designed for aquariums with relatively large numbers of plants compared to fish. It contains all essential nutrients needed including nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).
PLANT NUTRITION⁺ liquid is composed so that nitrogen and phosphorous in particular are supplied to the plants in the amounts and chemical forms the plants require for optimal absorption and growth. The waterplant fertiliser has been developed for plants which easily absorb nutrients from the water via the leaves, which typically are the low, compact foreground plants. The fertilizer also contributes to the nutrients that large stem and rosette plants require.


Dose:-
PLANT NUTRITION⁺ liquid should be added each week when changing the water. It is supplied in a specially designed bottle which helps to ensure accurate dosing. Pressing the side of the bottle forces the nutrient into the dispensing chamber.
PLANT NUTRITION⁺ liquid should be added each week when the water is changed. Tropica recommend 5 mL per 50 L water. However, they also recommended that this is set in accordance with plant requirements.
PLANT NUTRITION⁺ liquid contains, in addition to micro-nutrients, all essential macro-nutrients. The fertiliser is particularly suitable where plants display a lack of nutrition. However note that if algae growth starts, PLANT NUTRITION⁺ liquid may promote this growth.

PLANT NUTRITION⁺liquid contains nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Dosage must therefore be adapted to plant absorption rates, in order to avoid undesirable algae growth. If signs of algae growth develop, reduce the dosage by 50% and increase water changing frequency by 50 %. Changing the water not only reduces the concentration of nutrients in the water, but also removes algae spores, remnants and other accumulated elements from the aquarium water.

PLANT NUTRITION⁺ liquid contains:-
N 1.34%, P₂O₅ 0.23%, (P 0.1%), K₂O 1.23%, (K 1.03%), S 0.91%, Mg 0.39%, Fe 0.07%, Mn 0.04%, Cu 0.006%, B 0.004%, Mo 0.002%, Zn 0.002%, HEEDTA, DTPA, E123
(% = W/W)

Tropica Plant Nutrition⁺ is now available to buy from FluidsensorOnline.com

Tropica Aquacare Plant Nutrition

PLANT NUTRITION liquid is designed for aquariums with relatively large numbers of fish compared to plants. It is rich in iron and contains all the all the important nutrients for healthy and sustained aquarium plant growth. It contains potassium and essential micro-nutrients but does not contain nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). These nutrients are supplied from fish excrement and food remnants.
PLANT NUTRITION liquid therefore supplies the nutrients plants easily run out of and which plants ideally absorb via the leaves.



Dose:-
PLANT NUTRITION liquid should be added each week when changing the water. It is supplied in a specially designed bottle which helps to ensure accurate dosing. Pressing the side of the bottle forces the nutrient into the dispensing chamber. Tropica recommend a dose rate of 5 mL per 50 L water per week, but they also recommend that this is set in accordance with plant requirements.For example, light leaves often indicate lack of nutrition, but this can also be due to poor growth.

Regular dosing with PLANT NUTRITION liquid can restore green and luxuriant leaves, however, PLANT NUTRITION liquid is a fertiliser and not a medicine for dying plants.

Tropica recommend that 25 % (minimum) of the aquarium water is changed every second week. If undesirable algae growth does occur, then Tropica recommend increasing the water change (up to 50%) and planting additional rapid growth waterplants such as Hygrophila, Vallisneira and Egeria.

PLANT NUTRITION liquid contains:-
K₂O 0.96%, (K 0.8%), S 0.91%, Mg 0.39%, Fe 0.07%, Mn 0.04%, Cu 0.006%, B 0.004%, Mo 0.002%, Zn 0.002%, HEEDTA, DTPA, E123
(% = W/W)

Tropica Aquacare Plant Nutrition is now available to buy from FluidsensorOnline.com

PLANT NUTRITION⁺ capsules supply your waterplants with all the nutrients they need for healthy and sustained growth over a long period of time. They contain small pellets of concentrated nutrients which are released slowly over a period of several months – They are therefore well suited to the fertilisation of individual plants.
PLANT NUTRITION⁺ capsules contain nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) in addition to micronutrients. These are released to the plants over the entire period.
Nutrition release rates do not exceed plant absorption rates, so ensuring nutrition remains within a closed cycle between capsules and plant roots.
PLANT NUTRITION⁺ capsules, besides ensuring fertile growth, also promote plant growth and the absorption of nutrients from water. This reduces the risk of undesirable algae growth.


Use:-
1-3 capsules depending on plant size and expected nutrition requirements, placed by plant roots, minimum 4 cm below the gravel surface. Carefully cover any holes made with sand and gravel.
Note – the capsules contain nitrogen and phosphorus. It is therefore important that plants are thriving and are in growth when the capsules are added. It is also important that they are properly covered with gravel otherwise algae growth can occur.
If algae does occur, increase the frequency and ammount of water change.
PLANT NUTRITION⁺ capsules are particularly suitable for stem plants and for larger rosette plants (such as the Echinodorus species). Large and rapid growth plants can require up to 3 capsules. 1-2 capsules are recommended for smaller plants. Where planting density is high, each capsule will supply an area of 5 x 5 cm. New capsules should be added after 6 -12 months.
If you are uncertain about dosage, try first with one capsule and adjust dosage to plant reaction.

Tropica Aquacare Plant Nutrition⁺ Capsules are now available to buy from FluidsensorOnline.com

Aquarium Plant Nutrition

From the articles section of FluidsensorOnline.com

Plants contain chlorophyll which absorbs light. The light energy converts carbon, hydrogen and oxygen into sugars, starches and cellulose. These are called carbohydrates and this is how plants store the energy derived from light. The process is called photosynthesis.

Oxygen (O), carbon (C), and hydrogen (H) are obtained from water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). These are absorbed by the plant through the roots and through the leaves. Without them the plant will die.

In addition plants require other essential elements – nitrogen for amino acids to make protein, magnesium is required to make chlorophyl and so on.

These elements can be divided into two groups:-

Macronutrients. These are nutrients required by plants in relatively large amounts. They are: nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and sulphur (S)
Micronutrients. These are nutrients required by plants in relatively small amounts – sometimes referred to as trace elements. These include iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), boron (B), molybdenum (Mb) and chlorine (Cl)

In the natural world these elements are usually found in the soils or sediments in which the plants are growing.
In the artificial world whether it’s a plant in a pot on the windowsill or a plant in an aquarium it is unlikely that there will be sufficient quantities of the elements for the plant to grow well and it will be necessary to add nutrients to ensure that plants survive and thrive.

The nutrients have to be added to the planted tank in a manner in which they can be taken up by the plants. It is not a case of adding the simple elements. It is usually done by adding a fertiliser which has been formulated for aquarium use. This will contain the elements in a form that can be absorbed by the plants. Fertilisers are available in liquid, pellet and powder forms and with different formulations. For example some are available with no added nitrogen or phosphorous for use in tanks with a high fish population.

Proprietary liquid fertilisers are possibly the easiest to use but they can be expensive. Many planted tank enthusiasts make up their own stock solutions from basic chemicals or ‘straight fertilisers’ as they are sometimes called – this is much more economical than buying liquids even if it is more time consuming.
Chemicals that are normally used for this are: potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, and potassium sulphate. These provide nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. To provide the micro-nutrients trace element mixes are available and together with magnesium sulphate for magnesium stock solutions can easily be made up.

For more information on the using chemical fertilisers go to:-
Using chemical fertilisers in planted aquariums

For more information on dosing nutrients and the ‘Estimative Index’ for determining quantities to add, go to the following:-

www.barrreport.com/estimative-index/62-estimative-index-dosing-no-need-test-kits.html
www.theplantedtank.co.uk

As one door closes.......

.......fluidsensoronline.com shop doors open!

Due to a dispute with Ebay we recently took the decision to close the shop there and so decided to open our own instead. You can find it over at fluidsensoronline.com where you'll be able to buy the same range of aquatic plant fertilisers including Potassium Nitrate, Mono Potassium Phosphate and Potassium Sulphate etc.
We also hope to include a range of liquid nutrients very soon along with substrates and tank decor etc.