API Leaf Zone Aquarium Plant Fertilizer, 18-Ounce

I have been using this for five or six weeks. I have a 40 gallon long tank with plants only. I put one cap full a week and the monte carlo loves it. The bottom of the tank is exploding with monte carlo. It is growing every direction including upwards. I had read others having success with API Leaf Zone. I have to say, I am one of them.

I have bought a few plants who arrived healthy but did not faire well in my tank. I purchased this in hopes my new plants would survive. So, far it seems to be working at least for one of my plants. I wonder if my problem with the plants came from too much light for prolonged periods of time. I am keeping my fingers crossed for my plant future.

My plants are growing great!!!

Let me start by saying I am no expert on aquarium plants and am learning more every day. This product seems fine if you really do want one product that has both Iron and Potassium in it and want the convenience of a premixed liquid. But, with macro fertilizers similar to this one, many people also like to use a trace mineral combo like Seachem Flourish or use a dry trace combo like plantex when using the PPS Pro fertilizer system. This product could cause a problem if using a trace mineral fertilizer with this product. When I first got my plants I was using this product as well as some other liquid fertilizers. I realized my trace fertilizers also had iron in them so I was getting my iron levels way too high. So, I had to find a different potassium fertilizer without iron in it and quit using the rest of this bottle.

For better control I’d suggest using separate fertilizers (for everything but your trace fertilizer) not a combo fertilizer like this. I was at first intimidated and tried liquid fertilizers like this, but many experienced aquarium keepers warned it would become expensive and to use dry fertilizers instead.

After doing research I have finally taken the plunge to all dry fertilizers, I save a ton of money and have way more control over my PPS Pro mixture. It only takes me about 10 minutes to weigh, and mix my macro and trace bottles with distilled water, then they last about 3 months before its time to mix the bottles again. I spent about $50 total for all my macro and trace dry fertilizers plus $10 for a digital 100 gram scale in .01 increments. According to my math the dry fertilizers I purchased will last me three years for my size tanks. If I had continued using pre-manufactured liquid macro and trace fertilizers like this and the other necessary ones, I would have spent $400-600 over the three years. So, that’s a pretty large savings. But, more so than the savings I like the control of the dry fertilizers.

But, this product may be fine for beginners, just make sure none of your other trace fertilizers have iron in them as well and make sure to buy the other required macro liquid fertilizers as well(this one does not contain all Macro fertilizers). Or test to see if you need the others. After testing my water, I have high enough nitrates from fish waste that I don’t add nitrogen to my fertilizer mix, but I do need Phosphorous as phosphates don’t even register on my test for my tanks.

PS. If you do decide to try dry fertilizers some day there are several reputable companies that sell these fertilizers. I did quite a bit of research myself but still had a lingering question. The company I used had great support, and responded to my emailed questions throughout the weekend, the guy knew his aquarium information so I ordered the following Monday. I have been very happy, but you do need to do some initial research. Unfortunately at the time of this posting amazon doesn’t seem to sell these dry fertilizers, so you will have to use another company like I did.

Using this for few weeks and can tell the difference in plant growth A plus

I was so excited to put live plants in my tank for the first time and i was taking photos of before an after of my plants. .. except about a month later my plants looked exactly the same, no change. Everyone always raves on about their plants growing uncontrollably and how constant maintenance is a must. i did some research and this product was recommended a lot.

I am both happy and sad to say my plants have also gone wild since using this (I now understand the struggle of maintaining a tidy planted tank) My hornwort needs cutting almost daily, that thing is ridiculous! My wisteria is also desperate to reach water level and i need to keep cutting it down, java ferns seem unphased and look the same but they have loads of babies sprouting at the tips? Java moss has also finally taken off after laying dormant for like 2 months. Anubias are showing new growth, and even the monte carlo is sprouting new leaves.

Happy days!