WHY BOTHER?

ROOT or WATER?

HOW TO DOSE

DOSING CHEMISTRY

WHERE TO BUY

WHAT TO USE

tools and products I use

​Here is a summary of what I have used or have experienced to a degree that I'm fully comfortable to recommend. If you do buy the products through the Amazon links below, I do earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), which helps in the running of this website. 

Root tabs from API

Root tabs from Osmocote

I highly recommend approaching fertilisation from both angles: root and water. Root tabs such as these from API and Osmocote (as seen above) are easy enough to implement in any tank;  a few minutes of work to enrich the substrate is something we should not pass up on. 

Dr Tim's ammonium chloride adds ammonia to the tank to start the cycling process.

 Seachem Equilibrium raises GH and contains Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and minor trace elements. This product does not alter KH.

APT Complete. After experimenting with all the off-shelf choices for several years, it was a hassle (and expensive) to buy 5 to 8 bottles of different fertilisers to cover all the critical nutrients in the right proportions. To overcome these challenges, I created my own blend. Years later, after further enhancements, I was persuaded to make it available as a product for sale. Details here.

Alternatively you can get the dry powder EI Kit by NilocG Aquatics and mix the fertilizers yourself. This is the most economical method by far, and allows you to control individual proportions of NO3/PO4 etc. How exactly to mix the dry powder to attain the proportions that you require is in the in-depth section for nutrient dosing.

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THE 2HR AQUARIST GUIDE TO FERTILISERS & DOSING

dosing
​101

Why bother? What fertilisers should I dose and why?

GO

root or
​water?

Which should I provide? How are they different?

GO

how to
​dose

What is the EI approach? ADA? What works?

GO

dosing
​chemistry

How to read fertiliser labels? How much to dose?

GO

where
to buy

My recommendation on commercial choices.

GO