Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tank Plant Advice => Topic started by: TopCookie on May 27, 2018, 03:36:39 PM

Title: Plant Nutrition Question
Post by: TopCookie on May 27, 2018, 03:36:39 PM
Doing as much research on the subject of balanced plant nutrition & lighting etc has lead to a potentially interesting question... 

It is clear that striking the right balance between nutrients, carbon and lighting is the key to success, and the more of each - when kept in balance - will lead to faster, more abundant plant growth... 

So, could you then in theory control the growth rates of your plants, or namely slow them down a little, by reducing the three key elements of nutrients, carbon and lighting, provided you found the right balance again...?  For example, in any one given tank that say might have found the right balance with eight hours of tank lighting then also have a correctly balanced nutrition but with seven or even six hours etc...?  Would be kinda great to be that good, or green fingered, that you could choose your preferred photoperiod first and then find the relevant balance of plant nutrients to work with that choice of photoperiod and hence be able to either increase or decrease the rate of growth to suit your requirements... 
Title: Re: Plant Nutrition Question
Post by: Matt on May 27, 2018, 08:29:14 PM
Makes sense to me... pressurised co2 increases plant growth rates in most tanks as it is the limiting factor... but... it also opens up the possibility of growing more types of 'harder' plants... so I suppose it depends what you are trying to grow...