Hello Welcome, Sebaquafly1

[Art]

Welcome to ScapeCrunch, @Sebaquafly1!
We would love to get to know you. Please tell us about yourself. What tank do you have?

 

[Sebaquafly1]

Hi all,

Have been in the aquarium hobby for some time now, but only for two years I have been using 'hightech' tanks. After these two years, I feel I am slowly moving away from the beginner phase and into intermediate territory. Also, recently I've made the decision to stop buying off the shelf fertilizers and start making my own DIY fertilizers. Started initially with nature style tanks and now reading into Dutch style tanks. Think I'll start on one within three months or so.

Looking forward to learn more on this forum and share my experiences of the past years.

Have a good one!

 

[Koan]

Here are some resources to get you started!

Resource Thread 'Rocco's Nutrient Accumulation Calculator'

Oct 17, 2025

Running a tank with BDBS (inert sand substrate), no root tabs, no aquasoil, and only dosing DIY ferts via EI/"non-limiting" methods has been extremely enlightening (and successful!). To help my journey, I created a tool to help myself and others who use weekly water changes and manual fert dosing:

Rocco's Nutrient Accumulation Calculator​

Journal for this tank is here!​

​

Who is this calculator for?​

For anyone...

• Naturescapes_Rocco
• Replies: 19
• Forum: Fertilizing and Aquarium Chemistry

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Question of the Week Thread 'What's your fertilization standard operating procedure??'

Apr 18, 2025

​

This week, let's get into the details to help everyone out. Please be as specific as possible, as if you were writing a standard operating procedures (SOP).

How do you dose fertilizer into your aquarium??​

I'll start.

Macros: I use @Burr740's 1000ml bag of macro fertilizer and mix it into a 1000ml container of distilled water. I have it in my cabinet ready to go. When I do my weekly ~50% water change, I dose 10ml of the macro formula to the tank. So I front load the fertilizer. This contemplates that my rocks provide some GH/KH.

Micros: I use...

• Art
• question of the week
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Planted Aquarium Discussion

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Thread 'Meditations on the Fundamental Nature of Dosing (was: Some Random Questions)'

Aug 5, 2025

1. In a journal on another forum someone is only dosing 2ppm N a WEEK. Note, not NO3 but N. It was a high tech tank with bright light and CO2. Lean dosing method it was called. His plants looked great. This is new to me, but seems it’s a thing. Is the assumption that given stability, plants will adjust to whatever they are given?

I believe he had some type aquasoil, so some N was coming from that. Once this gives out, will the 2ppm N/week still be enough? Is the misunderstanding here that I’m used to EI method that gives more than enough?

2. I’m looking for a good read on...

• BenB
• Replies: 42
• Forum: Fertilizing and Aquarium Chemistry

BurrAqua Post in thread '**Plants In Stock @ BurrAqua.com** - Complete Plant List - Updated In Real Time!'

Apr 30, 2025

Can you put information about your dry salts here too? I’m out of MgSO4, partway through everything else, so trying to figure out the best way to switch over.

Thanks for asking about this. Ive been waiting to list the ferts until retail packaging is ready to roll, that should be done in a couple of weeks. I dont have individual salts, like the MgSO4 you mentioned

What I have is the popular pre-mixed packs of both micros and macros to make your own solution. You just add the entire pack to your dosing container and mix using distilled or RO water

Spoiler: Read More

The micros has Fe DTPA+ Fe...

• Burr740

• 

 

[techman81]

Welcome! There are many knowledgeable Dutch style scapers here, so lots of good experience to pull from.

 

[Sebaquafly1]

Thank you for the tips Koan! And good to know Techman that there are Dutch style scapers, I have some reading to do

 

[Koan]

good to know Techman that there are Dutch style scapers

Lots!

Post in thread 'Aquascaping Contests'

Dec 7, 2025

@Unexpected @gjcarew @Pepere @OmidNiav and @Kwyet and Luke and Raj

1371: Unexpected by Michael Miller - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

Michael Miller's 2025 AGAIAC 354.29 liter Dutch entry titled "Unexpected"

agaiac.org

1426: Coffey, Like the drink, only not spelled the same. by Omid Niavarani - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

Omid Niavarani's 2025 AGAIAC 300.0 liter Dutch entry titled "Coffey, Like the drink, only not spelled the same."

agaiac.org

1418: Harmony by Tracy Ruhlman - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

Tracy Ruhlman's 2025 AGAIAC 231.84 liter Dutch entry titled "Harmony"

agaiac.org

1434: Viridescent daydream by GavinCarew - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

GavinCarew's 2025 AGAIAC 276.48 liter Dutch entry titled "Viridescent daydream"

agaiac.org

1293: 24 x 18 x 18 by Luke Jones - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

Luke Jones's 2025 AGAIAC 121.13 liter Dutch entry titled "24 x 18 x 18"

agaiac.org

1425: The Stillness After by Raj Mahakul - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

Raj Mahakul's 2025 AGAIAC 300.0 liter Dutch entry titled "The Stillness After"

agaiac.org

1364: It’s Miller Time by Raymond Frechette Jr - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

Raymond Frechette Jr's 2025 AGAIAC 109.78 liter Dutch entry titled "It’s Miller Time"

agaiac.org

@Jeff Miotke placed 9th with Maelstrom in the Aquatic Garden category 45-90L.

1220: Maelstrom by Jeffrey Miotke - 2025 AGA International Aquascaping Contest

Jeffrey Miotke's 2025 AGAIAC 73.5 liter Aquatic Garden entry titled "Maelstrom"

agaiac.org

Well done everybody!!

• Koan

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