02-09-2003, 10:04 PM
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Nymphaea Lotus
tose (LeighMo) wrote in
:
Leigh, I'd be much obliged if you could post the chemical analysis of
the Jobes spike;
The Jobes planted tank folk like are the ones for ferns and palms:
16-2-6
That is, 16% nitrogen, 2% phosphate, 6% potassium. The ferns and
palms type has less phosphate and more potassium than the normal
houseplant Jobes.
However, many people have used the normal Jobes (13-4-5) with success
(including me). So I'm sure your local plant spikes would work. Just
be careful. Break the spike into thirds, and use only one piece at
first. Bury it deeply, and don't disturb that area of the gravel for
awhile. I usually notice nearly instant results when I give a piece
of Jobe's to my Nymphaea.
Warning:
I used the Jobes for Ferns and Palms for a year without problems. Then I
removed a large Nuphar Japonica. It's roots had extended to all four
corners of my four-foot tank. Removing it disturbed the gravel (Flourite)
throughout the tank. I estimate that approximately 1.5-2 Jobes spikes were
released into the water column-I had them under four swords and the Nuphar.
They were so crumbly that I could not vacuum them.
Result: Algae city. It turns out much of the nitrate in the spikes is in
the form of ammonium, which algae love. This is why we are so often told,
"Keep them buried". I say, "Keep them out of your tank." I no longer use
them in mine.
I am still searching for a good substrate nitrate supplement though.
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