I put Rose Fertilizer in my Tank

[ThePurple12]

That’s really cool. Thirty years ago lagoon tanks with lots of macro were very popular and I’ve thought about setting another one up. They are a lot of fun. Never heard of using rose fertilizer though, very interesting.

I kept freshwater planted tanks for a few years using the Tom Barr method that focused on dosing macro/micro nutrients with large weekly water changes so that no nutrient was ever limited. Curious if marine macro can be managed a similar way.

That's similar to what I do with my planted seahorse tank. Dosing n and p for the plants, weekly water changes for the horses. Macros are doing great.

 

[jeffww]

Could just be contaminated with pesticides/herbicides or high in metals since a portion comes from manure.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As a general rule, using terrestrial fertilizers is not a good plan. This one has ingredients that might be a big problem, like manure. Might be loaded with heavy metals.

Contrary to opinions above, I cannot see a downside to getting an ICP test to make sure heavy metals are not a problem.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Don't bother with an ICP as it doesn't tell you anything about problematic organics or organisms. Plus all you can do if a mineral is off is rip the bed anyways.

Of course it does not say anything about bacteria. It says something about other possible problems.

 

[JCOLE]

Could also throw a Polyfilter in your sump to help remove anything that might have been in the fertilizer.

I think a good plan would be to remove the old sand and add new, do a big water change and add a polyfilter. Should come around after time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I had two results that seemed odd with icp analysts so I don’t trust them. Searching around seemed others had the same problem. One thing was uranium levels was so high the tank would flow half wAy around the world.

I trust triton and friends had good luck with ati and triton.

Just my experience as others would probably disagree

I agree that not all companies provide equally useful data, and Triton seems to be good, IMO.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Could also throw a Polyfilter in your sump to help remove anything that might have been in the fertilizer.

I think a good plan would be to remove the old sand and add new, do a big water change and add a polyfilter. Should could around after time.

I agree with the polyfilter or other metal binding polymer (metasorb, cuprisorb, etc.), but I'm not convinced the sand is an issue. Removing it may be helpful, however.

 

[ThePurple12]

Thanks Randy, I just did a series of large water changes, so I'm thinking an ICP test wouldn't be effective right now.

I agree with the polyfilter or other metal binding polymer (metasorb, cuprisorb, etc.), but I'm not convinced the sand is an issue. Removing it may be helpful, however.

The fertilizer is mixed in with the sand, that's the problem.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy, I just did a series of large water changes, so I'm thinking an ICP test wouldn't be effective right now.

The fertilizer is mixed in with the sand, that's the problem.

Oh, sorry. I assumed it was dissolved.

 

[ThePurple12]

I've started to remove the sand, currently waiting to do more because the tank is a mud puddle.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy, I just did a series of large water changes, so I'm thinking an ICP test wouldn't be effective right now.

The fertilizer is mixed in with the sand, that's the problem.

If you start with excessive copper, and do 75% water changes, it might still be too high.

 

[ThePurple12]

Good point. Guess I will order one, changed my mind for the 4th time in this thread!

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

@brandon429 possibly a very very interesting future rip clean to monitor....

@ThePurple12 are you near Harrisonburg? I have a spare ICP I keep on hand for such occasions.

 

[ThePurple12]

@brandon429 possibly a very very interesting future rip clean to monitor....

@ThePurple12 are you near Harrisonburg? I have a spare ICP I keep on hand for such occasions.

Thanks, man! That's very generous. I'm 3 hours away in Christiansburg unfortunately. I just ordered one

 

[flampton]

As a general rule, using terrestrial fertilizers is not a good plan. This one has ingredients that might be a big problem, like manure. Might be loaded with heavy metals.

Contrary to opinions above, I cannot see a downside to getting an ICP test to make sure heavy metals are not a problem.

The downside is obviously the 50 dollars.

So applying Occam's razor the first thing would be to remove the feathers, bones, manure, bacteria and fungi the best you can.

Some water changes, polyfilter sounds good too.

Then if it doesn't sort out grab an ICP.

If you have money to burn perform an ICP now, but again it will just tell you to rip the bed, and do water changes.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Oh yeah, didn't think of that. While I don't have a problem with cow poop (is it really any different than fish poop?), there must be something else leaching from it. Looks like I'm in for a lot of work.

Putting that stuff in my tank was probably the stupidest thing I've ever done;Drool;Drool

Unless your growing marijuana or tomatoes, I wouldn't be adding fertilizer to anything, ever.

 

[ThePurple12]

Unless your growing marijuana or tomatoes, I wouldn't be adding fertilizer to anything, ever.

Thank you...

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Can I thoroughly rinse the sand and reuse it? Should wash out all the fertilizer particles, right?

I would think it would bind to the sand, it's a full replacement IMO

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The downside is obviously the 50 dollars.

So applying Occam's razor the first thing would be to remove the feathers, bones, manure, bacteria and fungi the best you can.

Some water changes, polyfilter sounds good too.

Then if it doesn't sort out grab an ICP.

If you have money to burn perform an ICP now, but again it will just tell you to rip the bed, and do water changes.

That's a fine opinion, but I do not share it.

 

[ThePurple12]

Randy, do you know anything about rinse and reuse/replace? I'd really prefer not to buy 10 new bags of sand.