scuba guy

Would anyone comment on their experience dosing ferts with fish present?

I am curious how much nitrate you add (if any) when fish are adding nitrate indirectly....

eklikewhoa

I have found that even with a heavy stocking of fish a good plant mass will soak upi almoast all of what the fish produce and the fish don't produce it fast enough.

scuba guy

...then I have a puzzle.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...eryplant-1.jpg

The picture linked above shows the extent of my planted aquarium. I have not had to add GW's nitrate in 3 weeks. My Nitrate level is pretty constant at 10 ppm.

I have tested my test kit and it is fairly accurate (reads zero with tap water and reads 20 ppm with test solution).

I feed the angels (you see in the picture) twice a day with worms in the morning and flake in the afternoon. I have a breeding pair among them (very healthy).

The plants are pearling, but no heavy growth (especially the amazons) hence my question.

The nitrate is coming from somewhere??

Bert H

If your lighting is reasonable, you don't do water changes and have a well fed and fairly heavy fish load, you can maintain nitrate levels. This is part of what the 'el natural' style is all about.

I had a tank where I would add back all the ferts after my weekly water change, but never had to add back anything else during the week except for some micros. The macros maintained fairly constantlly.

scuba guy

Thanks Bert - I think that's what I am experiencing.

I haven't done a major water change yet - waiting for Spring to arrive in Houston (It's been a long winter here - last night 34 degrees!! this is March, we should be in the 70-80's) - Azalea's are popping though.

When I do a 50% water change, that will tell me more about my fert program.

10 medium size angels (breeding size) in a 65 gallon aqauarium, apparently put out a bunch of Nitrogen (plus two huge cats and a big pleco).