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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #508
> >From: Chazz Hesselein <maf01562 at maf_mobile.al.us>
> >Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 13:53:27 -0600 (CST)
> >Subject: A fertilizing mess
> >
> >The last week of November I set up a 75 gallon, heavily planted, tank. I
> >work at a horticulture experiment station and have access to many
> >different fertilizers. One of our best fertilizers is the brand
> >Nutricote. I decided I would add some 360 day, slow release formulation
> >to my gravel as if I were planting a terestrial plant.
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Perhaps if you could limit the rate at which the frills are dissolving you
could lower the ammonia levels. The vaccuuming probably made things
worse. I'd consider adding another few inches of substrate; perhaps some
new sand/clayey mix and then gravel on top. Needless to say, you'll have
to pull the plants up. The fertilizer frills would then be buried deeper,
and, in theory, the limited water exchange would slow things down a bit.
Unless, of course, you have substrate heating. If you don't want to break
down the tank, this might at least lower the rate at which you have to do
water changes.
If you were going to try this sort of fertilizer again, I would suggest
putting it down on the bottom of the tank, with a layer of clay over it,
to slow the diffusion down. Plant rootlets will probably reach it fine,
anyway.
Would you rather I be pointed, or blunt? -- Edziu