"NetMax" wrote in message ...
"jonboy" wrote in message
et...
My LFS sold me Hagen Plant Grow spikes. They claim that they will last
1
year after they are activated. Anyway, the sticks contain phosphates:
Here
are the contents:

Total Nitrogen: 16%
7.5% Ammonical Nitrogen
8.5% Nitrate Nitrogen
Available Phosphates 9%
Soluble Phosphates 12%
Iron .45%

Anyway, these spikes have several other trace elements. My concern is
that
I'm adding phosphates to my water and not enough iron. Should I pull
these
plant tabs and buy Seachem Flourish tabs. I don't want to change my
substrate and thought that the tabs would work better then a liquid
that you
pour in to the water. I could really use some advice.

Thanks

If you get some Flourish tabs, post the ingredients. Also list the trace
elements in the Hagen plant grow spikes.

I have some Jobe's food spikes here (for ferns, 16-2-6)
Total nitrogen: 16%
2% Nitrate nitrogen
10.5% water insoluble nitrogen
3.5% urea nitrogen
available phosphoric acid (P2O5) 2%
soluble potash (K2O) 6%
derived from ureaformaldehyde nitrogen, triple superphosphate, potassium
nitrate.

I'm going to rumble your post over to rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants.
That's where the experts on this hang out.

NetMax

Hey...
Whatever you do, dont get the Nutrafin Plant Gro Spikes!!!! I had them
for a week and my Phosphate level went through the damn roof like a
rocket!! Went well over 5ppm. Luckily I was able to identify them as
the culprit and removed them. Now my ratios are all outa wack, and I
have Nutrafin Plant Gro Spikes to thank for it! Read the
ingredients...the NPK is NOT in a 10:1 ratio! I think, from my
experience, it will add more harm than good...try the Seachem if you
want...

You have been warned...
Nick