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Substrate Vitalization System from AquariumPlants.com

Discussion in 'Sediment / Substrate' started by Left C, Dec 3, 2009.

  1. Left C

    Left C Lifetime Members
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    #1 Left C, Dec 3, 2009
  2. Philosophos

    Philosophos Lifetime Charter Member
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    You know I haven't, and it's mostly because they don't list an analysis. It bothers me when that's missing; I'm thinking it's not exactly legal either.

    If the listing is by greatest to least concentration of a compound, then I'd say things don't look too bad. Not sure about the molar mass of ammonium phosphate though; having that higher than the MgSO4.7H2O seems a bit weird.
     
    #2 Philosophos, Dec 3, 2009
  3. Left C

    Left C Lifetime Members
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    I'm a little leery about those tablets too. Why have so many different ones?

    I bought some Osmocote Plus to try. It has NPK plus Mg and traces. I tried the regular Osmocote with only NPK and I had algae problems. Maybe the Plus may work.


    [​IMG]
     
    #3 Left C, Dec 4, 2009
  4. Philosophos

    Philosophos Lifetime Charter Member
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    I've always taken aquariumplants.com fertilizer related stuff as relative snake oil. Turface/SMS rebranded without any alteration, substrate tabs without analysis, heavy sales pitches, and a chip on their shoulder about EI sets off alarms for me. Don't get me wrong, they grow/sell some nice plants; I've ordered from them.

    The osmocote pro looks like it has a pretty good analysis. Just looking over things though, the N from NH4 in Osmocote original is 10% of 19% where the pro is 8% of 18%. I'm guessing the NH4 is the cause of issues at least, and the ratios on any of them are pretty NH4 heavy. Maybe a dry start with osomocote would allow the substrate to start nitrogen cycling; the NH4 would be headed over to NO3 before it could leech out to any considerable level. Just thinking out loud.
     
    #4 Philosophos, Dec 4, 2009
  5. bradac56

    bradac56 Prolific Poster

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    +1 on that, my thoughts exactly.

    - Brad
     
    #5 bradac56, Dec 4, 2009
  6. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    "a chip on their shoulder about EI sets off alarms for me"


    They are free to say what they want, but so am I, and I can type faster.
    There are plenty of other vendors out there I can/could suggest other folks support and try ;)



    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #6 Tom Barr, Dec 4, 2009
  7. shoggoth43

    shoggoth43 Lifetime Charter Member
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    Who are some of these other places?

    -
    S


     
    #7 shoggoth43, Dec 7, 2009
  8. Jeremy1

    Jeremy1 Prolific Poster

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    Along with the algae problems, did you have any fish deaths if it was due to the NH4 leaching from substrate? I was thinking of using Osmocote for my already established planted aquarium with fish, but now I am thinking as I don't want alge and certaninly don't want any fish deaths.
     
    #8 Jeremy1, Dec 7, 2009
  9. Gerryd

    Gerryd Plant Guru Team
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    Hi jeremy,

    IMO if you used it sparingly at first and did an extra water change or so mid-week, I would think you can ease into it.

    I would think it is much less of an issue in an ESTABLISHED tank.

    It does take time for the bacteria to MATCH the amount of nh4, so maybe using 25-30% at first and some extra WC would be the way to go at first?
     
    #9 Gerryd, Dec 7, 2009
  10. LoudCreature

    LoudCreature Prolific Poster

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    we have been using Osmocote for a little while and have no fish or shrimp deaths.

    Seems to be working well, mainly in well established tanks that needed a boost.

    We just redid an inert substrate with clay, peat, worm castings and Osmocoat Plus, but we did less than Tom Barr recommende, we put the fish back in the next day. It is heavily planted.

    I do not think it leaches that much too quickly.
     
    #10 LoudCreature, Dec 7, 2009
  11. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    It was more a general thing, meant to show how bad mouthing rarely helps a vendor. It's just not a wise thing to poo poo DIY folks to build your sales up.
    I would suggest ADA vendors for sediments, eg ADG or AFA. In your case overseas, the issue is much more "local".

    Osmocoat leaches a specific rate and it's pretty even particularly if........the temp is steady.

    It has a limited life span, but can be re enriched via tube and squirt some deep in the sediments. Pretty easy to do.

    I'd suggest worm castings, mineralized soils, clay delta soils, river soils, peats etc.
    Anything with good semi low organic matter(say 1-5% OM).

    That + Osmocoat should do pretty good.
    If you dislike soils, etc, then use sand and osmocoat alone.

    Lots safer and less mess than Jobes sticks.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr



    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #11 Tom Barr, Dec 8, 2009
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