The aquatic environment of an aquarium is a complex organism. Maintaining biological balance in it is a laborious process that requires the close attention of aqua scapers.
Aquarium chemistry is based on a deep knowledge of the principles of action of Micro And Macro Fertilizer Aquarium. No less important is information about the needs of tank plants in the presence of certain substances. But the most important thing is their concentration. We propose to sort out this difficult issue together.
What Are Micro And Macro Fertilizer Aquarium?
Despite the fact that fertilization is not always a justified measure, every self-respecting aquarist considers additional feeding necessary. Plant nutrients are divided into 2 groups:
- trace elements;
The feasibility of introducing these elements and their concentration depends on several factors.
It is important to understand which plants get their food from the soil and which from the aquatic environment. The growth rate, metabolic characteristics, and nutritional requirements, in general, are taken into account.
Microelements are nutrients that are necessary for maintaining vital functions, which are found in plants.
The content of these substances is measured in 1000-1000000 percentages. But, despite such an insignificant concentration, their role in development can hardly be overestimated. And the shortage is fraught with the emergence of pathologies and even death.
Caring aquarists are interested in the following trace elements:
- iron (Fe);
- cobalt (Co);
- manganese (Mn);
- iodine (I);
- copper (Cu);
- molybdenum (Mo);
- zinc (Zn);
- boron (B).
Interacting with nucleic acids, trace elements form complex complexes. These compounds affect the structure and function of ribosomes — organoids of any living cell.
Macronutrients are chemical substances, the concentration of which in living organisms ranges from 80 to 0.01% of the total mass.
The most common are the following:
- hydrogen (H);
- oxygen (O);
- phosphorus (P);
- carbon (C);
- sulfur (S);
- nitrogen (N);
- magnesium (Mg);
- potassium (K);
- chlorine (Cl);
- calcium (Ca);
- sodium (Na).
It is noteworthy that the proportion of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon and oxygen is 98% of living matter. These 4 elements, together with phosphorus and sulfur, are called bioelements. This name is no coincidence. These substances are integral components of carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids.
In aquarium 4 macroelements are of interest:
They often enter the aquatic environment as sulfates are present in tap water.
A brief description of the main macronutrients:
|Element||Description Micro And Macro Fertilizer Aquarium|
|Calcium||One of the most essential macronutrients for plant life. It is he who is responsible for the development of leaf plates. In addition, it has a direct effect on carbohydrate and protein metabolism. The interest of plants in this element is manifested already in the early stages of growth. Therefore, the lack of calcium is easy to determine by the state of young shoots. The concentration of this element in the aquatic environment is related to hardness. Calcium starvation often occurs in mild environments. Although rarely found in nature, aquarists often face a similar problem when changing water. Unfortunately, in many regions the quality of tap water is poor. And as an alternative, they use purified water with a hardness close to zero.|
|Nitrogen||Plants “perceive” this element both in the form of nitrate and in the form of ammonia or ammonium. This cornerstone of aquarists is present in a bound state in oceans and rivers, as well as in the atmosphere and lithosphere. Nitrogen is directly involved in the formation of protein molecules. It also plays an important role in the process of photosynthesis, because is part of chlorophyll.|
|Iron||The lack of this element is acutely felt when keeping plants in a closed aquarium system. Although not an integral part of chlorophyll, it takes an active part in redox processes that are important for its formation. Iron is essential for plant respiration and for the nighttime phase of photosynthesis.|
|Magnesium||An irreplaceable element of the plant nutritional program. Since it is the central atom of the chlorophyll molecule, it is essential for cell division, assimilation of phosphorus and ensuring the harmonious course of growth processes.|
Benefits of Micro And Macro Fertilizer Aquarium
In an aquarium, the effect of trace elements is focused on participation in redox processes, facilitating adaptation to the underwater environment, nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism, and maintaining the life of plants during temperature fluctuations.
Under the influence of these substances, the concentration of chlorophyll in the leaf plates increases, the assimilating activity of aquarium culture increases, and photosynthesis improve. Also, trace elements have a direct effect on the level of permeability of cell membranes, which in turn affects the quality of the supply of nutrients to cells.
The role of macronutrients is more global. They take part in the construction of inorganic and organic compounds. Most of the cells are represented by ions.
Consequences of lack of Micro And Macro Fertilizer in Aquarium:
|Fertilizer for Aquarium||Effects|
|Calcium||Stunted, twisted young shoots.|
|Phosphorus||Yellowing of leaf plates, dissolution of leaves in water, dying off of the lower layer.|
|Nitrogen||The appearance of white spots on the leaves, abnormal miniature leaf plates.|
|Magnesium||Formation of dark veins on leaf plates that have lost their color saturation.|
|Potassium||Holes in the leaves.|
Are you Aquarium Plant Turning Yellow?
Rrecommended dosage of Micro And Macro Fertilizer Aquarium
Experienced aquarists are guided by the following rule when adding fertilizers: it is better to under-fill than to exceed the required concentration. You should also consider the volume of the tank and the equipment present in it.
Aquarium nutritional supplements are available in the following forms:
- liquid fertilizers;
- nutrient substrates;
- root dressing;
- complex udo.
The concentration depends mainly on the level of light intensity, plant species, the intensity of supply of carbon dioxide and the presence of certain diseases.
|Fertilizer||The recommended concentration of Micro And Macro Fertilizer Aquarium|
|Nitrogen||The phosphate concentration should be 0.5 mg / l. The desired results can be achieved with Macro NPK or Macro P + K and a special test. It is also important to maintain a phosphate to nitrogen ratio of 1 to 10.|
|Iron||The optimal level is from 0.1 to 0.2 mg / l. The iron must be in the correct proportion to manganese: 2.5 to 1.|
|Potassium||The presence of this element in the aquatic environment should be calculated once when planning aquarium chemistry. In the future, its concentration can not be controlled. If Macro K is used, the recommended dosage is 10 mg / l per week for a remineralized osmosis aquarium and 20 mg / l for a tap water tank.|
|Calcium||The optimum concentration in a marine aquarium is 400 to 480 mg / l.|
|Magnesium||The required concentration of this element for plant growth is 0.2 mg / l.|
To determine the required dosage, we recommend purchasing a DENNERLE dispenser. This device has proven itself well among aquarists. It ensures an even supply of nutrients to the aquarium.
Expert opinion on Micro And Macro Fertilizer for Aquarium
I always add macro fertilizers after testing. Within 5 days, I add a certain dose and measure the hydrochemical parameters. Then I analyze how much the level of the element I need has decreased or increased and adjust the dose.
It is important to take into account that, as the plant grows, the need for certain elements may change. The concentration also depends on the regularity of weeding, planting new aquarium crops, light levels, etc.
I apply complex micronutrient fertilizers at the rate of 1 to 5 ml per 100 liters per day. For example, if 1 ml is enough for Anubias, then Hemianthus cube needs all 5.