ADA Step 1 and TMG and (+ADA K)

[craynerd]

Hi all,

I have been talking recently to a few of the CAU aquascapers and they supprised me with their fertilisation regieme.

first few months : ADA Step ( ADA Brightly K )

next few motnhs : 50% Step 1 : 50% TMG (+ ada K)

Then on: 100% TMG (+ada K)


Just wondering what your opinion is. I like the idea of using ADA ferts but my wallet does not however if it is the best method, i have spent so much so far i will not skimp on this final hurdle.

Do you think i could achieve the same results with alternative fert methods?

I mean the label for Step1 is vertually a mix of trace elements. Do you think trace would do the same job?

Opinions welcome and needed please??

Chris

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: ADA Step 1 and TMG and (+ADA K)

Is [Fe] from ADA better than [Fe] from TMG?

Think about this one. Chelators may be different, concentration(you can always add more/less etc), but the plant is still going to use them the same way once inside the plant.

ADA does not hold some patent on the elements on the peroidic chart :gw

CAU and other folks likely just do a mix of product lines to reduce the cost.
Many use CMS+B and Floruish or TMG and do the same thing.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[craynerd]

Re: ADA Step 1 and TMG and (+ADA K)

Thanks for your reply Tom.

I have been informed that the reason they like to add ADA products and choose the Brightly K is because:

Quote
"ADA fertilser may have hormone to help the plant grow more easy, so we like
to keep % of ADA during all the time."

Regarding the fertilisation method. Do you think in your own personal opinion that it would be as effective to use a standard EI method. Full NPK from onset as well?

Can you give me a more detailed plan of how you think i should go about fertilising my tank? I understand the key concepts of the EI however it just doesn`t seem to fit directly into the same principles adopted by ADA fetilisation methods.

Hope you can help. Get this sorted and i`ll order my plants and get going.

Chris

 

[apalsson]

Re: ADA Step 1 and TMG and (+ADA K)

I played with plant hormones for a while. Azoo make auxins, zeatins and gibberellins and market in small bottles.
In all fairness, I never saw any effects of those hormones.

Much of the hype around ADA reminds me of the times when salesmen travelled from market to market and sold a particular type of "oil" made from reptiles ..... need I say more .... however like back then, we all take the bait

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: ADA Step 1 and TMG and (+ADA K)

CAU is speculating on something they've never tested out.
They are wrong.

Hormones have been used qite often and I've use the lab grade hormones at high/med/low concentrations, as has one of the top research people in the world, Dr Kane at UF, a personal friend of mine actually.

What we did fine, and I confirmed his results, was with emergent crypts........you got more flowers, that was the only effect noted.

I've never seen any effect from hormones on vegetative growth in submesed habitats.

You can buy Super Thrive, also a hormone used in gardens to produce larger fruit, flowers, things we really do not care about. It's 1.99 for a 4 oz bottle that would = about 10 of the Azoo bottles or perhaps 20 o the ADA stuff.

Many have used this and stopped because it does not do anything either.
ADA adds it because is sounds good, not because it works.

It's that simple.
I'll challenge anyone on this topic.

Do you stop fertilizing after you trim plants?
No, so why would you not fertilze from the start?

Do frequent water changes initially, say 2x a week for the first 4 weeks and dose normal EI or lighter versions if you so chose.
Adding enough plants a the initial stage is critical, far more critical than any of the other issues.

So do not be cheap there, add lots of plants.

Regards,
Tom Barr