(03-12-2017, 08:17 AM)Thor Wrote: I actually never checked my phosphate level. The only testing kits I bought were for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH, and general hardness.
In fact, it has been a while since I checked any level of anything at all. During the initial setting up phrase years ago, I checked the readings once per day. Sometimes even twice a day. Other than that, I only check if there is a noticeable problem or potential problem.
I am still not yet in a mood to be a pro aquatic gardener yet. Maybe in the future I will give it a try when I feel like it.
I am glad your plants are doing better now, and you have found a new way to enjoy your aquarium. Keep doing what you enjoy is the key.
Lol, honestly, I do all this to lessen the workload to take care of the fish, plus increase the beauty of the tank. Get an API phosphate kit. Plus a bottle of phosphorus, some fertilizer with potassium (Sera Florena, the Seachem potassium, etc), and something with all the micro nutrients (like Flourish). You almost always need to dose potassium. There is no regular way to get it from fish waste, and nor reasonable way to overdose it. Phosphorus, maybe or maybe not. depending on the food you're using. Dry/pellet foods tend to have more than frozen. But that test is worth the few dollars, if you can encourage your plants to absorb 2-5 times the nitrates out of the water. At least it is to me. But, I just want to do less work, and have the life in the aquarium do it by itself, lol!
