A note on aquarium fertilizer dosing & nutrient needs:

All plants, whether terrestrial or aquatic, rely on photosynthesis to grow and reproduce. Photosynthesis is the process which plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy that plants can utilize. But photosynthesis doesn’t just use light; there are other components that plants must have in order to complete the photosynthesis process. These components primarily consist of nutrients and CO2.

The nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth are commonly known as macronutrients (NPK) and micronutrients (iron, manganese, etc.). NPK is a common abbreviation for nitrogen (n), phosphorus (p) and potassium (k). These elements are known as the macronutrient group because plants need them in large, or ‘macro’, amounts. Micronutrients consist of a long list of elements which plants only need in minute or ‘micro’ amounts.

CO2 (carbon dioxide) is a chemical compound that is vital to all plant life on earth. Just as humans breathe in oxygen, plants take in CO2. This is true of ALL plant life, whether terrestrial or aquatic. Without CO2, plant life does not exist.

As with most things in life, balance and stability are key to growing healthy plants. The nutrient and CO2 requirements that plants have is directly related to the amount of light they are exposed to. If a plant is shaded, it will require less CO2 and nutrients to be healthy. Conversely, if a plant is exposed to higher light, its need for CO2 & nutrients will increase.

Wild plants have it easy – they are able to absorb CO2 and nutrients as needed. Since these components are usually in plentiful supply, plant growth is not limited by them. Most indigenous plants are ideally suited to the locally-available light and nutrient supply, but many species can adapt to higher or lower light levels. This is particularly true of aquatic plants.

Aquatic plants, especially those which are regularly found in the planted aquarium hobby, are extremely adaptable. Most species can be grown with low or high levels of light and the plants will adapt to their surroundings. However, as the amount of light increases, the need for CO2 and nutrients also increases. Low-tech, low-light tanks do very well without additional CO2 and little fertilization, as the lack of light decreases plant demand for them. Conversely, high-tech, high-light aquariums will need CO2 injection and higher levels of nutrients to sustain the increased growth that is stimulated by the intense light.

The pfertz aquarium fertilizer system is extremely flexible, and can accommodate any level of light you may want to put on your tank. Whether you’re doing a low-light Java Fern & moss tank or an HQI-laden hygro farm, we’ve got you covered. If you have any questions about dosing your tank, feel free to email us at support@pfertz.com and we’ll help you determine what your plants will need!