2 weeks without fish is nothing...plants should be fine..if they start to
look like theyre having issues....then fertilize..otherwise, just let em
be.

James Ervin wrote:

Hello:

I am setting up my first planted tank. I have taken in as much as I
can from the archives and various FAQ's, but want some basic advice on
initial nutrient setup. I am following the plants-then-fish method of
setting up the tank and fear that there will not be enough macro
nutrients for the plants when I put then in the fresh tank.

Should I add any fertilizer? I have read that I should not, but I do
not want to waste my money on my plants only to have them die due to
lack of nutrients. (I will be ordering them from aquabatonic ... I
think).

My plan is to run the tank empty for a week (which I am doing right
now), letting the water de-gas and making sure all is setup and
working. Then add plants. Let the plants establish for two weeks
then add algae eating shrimp and fish. Let them exist on algae alone
for two weeks then add the first fish that need to be fed.

I still come back to the question of should I use any fertilizer? I
am think of using some of Kent's "freshwater plant supplement" and
adding some potassium nitrate (KNO3) to the water.

Here is the tank:

55 gallon long
160w of daylight bulbs on for 11 hours a day
4" of flourite
PH based CO2 injection
Large Eheim canister filter (forgot model number)
Cable heater in substrate.

Any ideas on how to manage the macro and micro nutrients of a new
green tank would be appreciated.
James Ervin
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