The Best Aquarium Plant Fertilizers to Promote Healthy Aquatic Plants

There are so many things to take care of when you keep a fish tank. And, one of these is buying fertilizers for your live aquatic plants. Your fish are not the only valuable creatures that you need to look after inside the tank; if you hope to make your planted tank look more natural and impressive, then it is a must to invest in the best aquarium plant fertilizers.

Needless to say, having the right fertilizer will considerably help you in ending up with stunningly green fish tank plants. Keep in mind that relying on the kind of fertilizer you get to utilize; will always affect how the fish tank plants will look inside the aquarium.

The good news is that there are innumerable options on the market nowadays and you can select from top-notch aquarium plant fertilizers to ensure that your fish tank plants are properly maintained. With the detailed product reviews in this article, you can definitely pick the highly-rated aquarium plant fertilizers that could help make your plants thrive well inside your fish tank.

Choosing aquatic plant fertilizers can become a breeze if you understand the vital buying factors. However, you should understand you shouldn’t just willy-nilly select any option with highly rich or tanked-up nutrition. First, you need to have an insight into important factors that’ll affect the product and its performance.

• Quality: Buyers should research potential options labels to see whether it’s safe for fish and aquatic plants. You’ll also want to check if the macronutrients and micronutrients are sufficient to function as plant food for aquarium plants.
• Type: Most aquarium plant fertilizer falls into one of three types: pre-packed aquarium fertilizer substrate, liquid aquarium fertilizer, or aquarium fertilizer root tabs (root feeding). Therefore, it’s vital to understand the Substrate Vs. Root tabs Vs. Liquid fertilizer debate. Once you do, choosing one perfect for your particular tank setup becomes effortless.
• Quantity: Purchasing fertilizer without understanding how much is needed for your tank doesn’t make much sense. The type and number of plants inside your fish tank will have a massive role in this determination.

Whether you’re a pro or still a newbie, this article will absolutely be a very useful guide for you!

Top-Quality Aquarium Plant Fertilizer Reviews 2023

1. API Leaf Zone Aquarium Plant Food

If you hope to purchase an aquarium liquid fertilizer that is affordable and good enough to take care of your fish tank plants, then API Leaf Zone is a great choice. This size is big enough and as a matter of fact, 5 ml is already sufficient to manage a 10-gallon fish tank.

If you have leafy types of plants, then this is highly recommended for you. This fertilizer is specifically formulated to ensure fast absorption in freshwater aquarium plants. It works wonderfully in sustaining very healthy and colorful leaves. Hence, your fish tank will look even more impressive.

In the same way, it can provide a significant amount of iron and potassium that your fish tank plants need. So, this does wonders when it comes to inhibiting the potentiality of decaying plants in the tank. Unlike other brands out there, this won’t force you to spend lavishly just to look after your fish tank plants.

On the other hand, the weak sides of this fish tank fertilizer are that it is only capable of providing a limited amount of nutrients as it merely focuses on iron and potassium and does not include other vital minerals. And, the aquarium plants are more likely to die if you happen to exceed the recommended dosage. Keep in mind that adhering to the dosage instructions is a must for this product.

2. Seachem Flourish

Are you currently searching for top-quality aquarium plant foods? Seachem Flourish has actually been tested and proven to be harmless for all fish tank dwellers. Once you regularly add the directed dosage inside the fish tank, you will notice that your aquarium plants start to look and grow prosperously.

For a fact, this is superiorly recommended to any fish tank keepers who are still new in the hobby. Aside from its convenience and ease of use, this is definitely a safe solution that is worth considering. If you wish to see your aquarium plants look stunning and rapidly growing roots and capable of providing amazing colors inside the tank, then this aquarium plant fertilizer shouldn’t be missed.

In like manner, it does not affect the fish tank’s pH balance if utilized as directed. It is worth considering that this is indispensable to any fish tank owners who have pH-sensitive plants or keep live fish in their aquariums.

Nevertheless, you need to be extra careful when adding the recommended amount because too much use of this fish tank plant fertilizer would only encourage massive algae proliferation inside the aquarium. Also, the caps on bottles have issues of being loose so leak concerns are to be expected.

3. Thrive Aquarium Plant Fertilizer

Would you like to invest in an effective planted tank fertilizer for your live aquatic plants? If you are really serious about spoiling your aquarium plants with essential nutrients, then Thrive Aquarium Plant Fertilizer will help you achieve that. Once this is properly used, you can impede the buildup of algae so you can ensure that your fish tank inhabitants are kept safe and healthy at all costs.

More than that, by simply providing your fish tank plants with complete nutrients, they can grow healthily, fresher and look great. This size is big enough to medicate a total of 2,500 gallons of tank water and adding it to the aquarium is made easier and this is made possible by its user-friendly pump bottle.

Still and all, a couple of the negative sides of this aquarium plant liquid fertilizer are its slightly expensive price tag. Besides, it also has the possibility to urge plenty of nitrates into the tanks’ water column particularly if you frequently exceed the directed dosage. That said, you need to use this aquarium plant fertilizer with caution to avoid such occurrences from happening. You also can find other nitrate remover solutions if needed.

4. Seachem Flourish Tabs Growth Supplement

Being renowned as one of the A1 aquarium plant nutrients products, Seachem Flourish Tabs Growth Supplement is not a waste of money to use. This is an efficient means to sustain blooming fish tank plants without the hassle of utilizing liquid supplements. It is especially ideal for regular application in denser formations around plants that come in a bigger size.

Bear in mind that it is critical to put the tablet supplement deep so as to get to the plant roots and so it won’t be lost in the water column. Not to mention, this is the product to go if you hope to restore micronutrient loss in the substrate.

Meanwhile, this product requires you to save some more money before you can purchase it since it absolutely comes with an overpriced price tag. This means that it is not for those who are searching for pocket-friendly aquarium plant foods. In line with this, this also comes with marginally acidic properties. As you can see, these are just a few of the flaws that you need to be aware of.

5. Thrive+ All-in-One Liquid Fertilizer

When reading planted aquarium fertilizer guide, you will learn that it is a must to choose the safest and the most effective fertilizer that could take better care of your aquarium plants. This is an outstanding all-in-one dosing fertilizer that can provide the required nutrients for your most treasured aquatic plants.

Fortunately, it is quite easy just to obtain everything you specifically require in a single bottle. And, this is what makes this product something worthy of spending for. You will witness for yourself that this plant food is the top-tier alternative that you could utilize for highly demanding planted tanks. It is no sweat to administer since it comes with a pump bottle that is user-friendly and convenient to utilize.

To use this product, you only have to pump it in your aquarium and you are good to go! In just a single week, you can observe that your fish tank plants are displaying more color and they grow and respond positively. This way, you can start having a magnificent sight inside the aquarium.

At any rate, if you are utilizing a substrate such as ADA soil, this may not be an impeccable alternative to consider buying because an overabundance of nutrients may not be good as well. And, do not exceed the directed dosage if you do not want to experience negative outcomes.

6. API ROOT TABS Aquarium Plant Fertilizer

If you are dealing with poor root systems on your fish tank plants, then the right dry aquarium fertilizer for you to purchase is none other than API Root Tabs. Such a product is a first-rate option to get live aquatic plants to build vigorous root systems.

It is worth knowing that it already contains the most vital minerals and vitamins that every aquarium plant needs like potassium, carbon and iron. These vitamins and minerals are used up over time and must be replenished for aquatic plants to grow healthily.

Needless to say, stimulating a strong and healthy root development for green plants residing in your fish tank may not always be a piece-of-cake task to deal with. In addition to this, the problem does not need to be aggravated if you choose the right fertilizer for them. Hence, if you wish to sustain colorful and fresh aquarium plants inside your tank, then it is high time to give this product a try.

Be that as it may, the only drawbacks that are to be expected when using this aquarium plant fertilizer are its capability to dissolve more rapidly once added to the tank water. Aside from this, it is more likely to produce slight white discoloration in the tank, particularly after first use. But, it is still a product worth purchasing for your aquarium plants to thrive well.

7. Aqueon Aquarium Plant Food

There is no need to go through hard times just to get the right aquarium fertilizer for you. Aqueon Aquarium Plant Food will bring a huge change to your fish tank once you add this to your aquatic plants. Wouldn’t it be a great sight to behold if your fish and aquarium plants were all healthy and flourishing inside the aquarium? Sure it is!

If you wish your fish tank plants to look more alive and vibrant in color, then you’ve got to invest in an aquarium plant fertilizer that can help them stay green, fresh and in good condition. If you utilize this product with the indicated dosage per week, then you’ll start to witness the big difference it could do to your plants.

It is nice to know that a single bottle of this fertilizer goes a long way, so it is somehow budget-friendly and absolutely not a waste of your hard-earned money.

For all that, this product may not be sufficient enough for harder plants. In the same way, if you happen to go beyond the directed dosage, then there is a greater likelihood that there would be immense algae growth inside the fish tank.

8. Aquarium Plant Root Fertilizer Tabs

It is significant to note that Aquarium Plant Root Fertilizer Tabs are cutting-edge solutions if you are serious in keeping your aquarium plants healthy, safe, fresher and greener while thriving inside the fish tank. What’s so interesting about these tabs is that they come in a square form which makes them plain sailing to plant unlike other products out there.

Indeed, they do not come with a gel cap that only tends to float in the tank water. Their well-balanced blend of slow release fertilizers is especially awesome at providing the vital nutrients that fish tank plants precisely require whenever and wherever they need them. You can utilize them in aquatic substrates and gravel beds.

All the same, the tabs are too soft which makes them easily crumbled. And, the bag and the tablets are certainly tinier in size than advertised.

9. Liquid NPK+M – Aquarium Liquid Fertilizer

This liquid fertilizer is highly recommended if you opt for a highly concentrated aquarium plant fertilizer that won’t let you down in maintaining healthy, vibrant and active live aquatic plants inside your tank. If you prefer, you may consider altering to other dosing techniques that you find easier when administering it.

As compared to other brands available on the market at present, this won’t hurt your pocket because it is not priced expensively. The good news is that its affordability does not mean compromised quality. As a matter of fact, it is the other way around.

In spite of the must-love features of this product, the weak points that you need to keep an eye on include the fact that it runs out quite fast which means you need to buy again and again. Also, the product’s bottle seems to be more susceptible to being moldy.

What To Look For When Buying An Aquarium Safe Fertilizer

There are some vital aspects for you to contemplate on before you make the final decision when it comes to the right type of fertilizer to use in your fish tank. And, a few of these considerations include the following:

Do they contain macronutrients and micronutrients? Nitrogen, phosphate and potassium are undoubtedly the most valuable components of a fish tank fertilizer since huge amounts is especially required. What is more, the other vital macronutrients consist of sulfur, magnesium and calcium.

Hence, it is practical to check the label of the fertilizer product you are planning to buy to inspect if this is safe to use for your live aquatic plants and if it contains the required macronutrients.

On the other hand, please be guided that micronutrients are vital components too, but as compared to macronutrients, small amounts of these are already enough. Since micronutrients are already present in tap water, there is no need to add more of them.

Adding plant fertilizers won’t bring about algae growth. Some aquarium owners believe that fertilizers are the sole reason for algae proliferation. For fact, if you do not add fertilizer, your fish tank plants will be deprived of the indispensable components required for proper growth.

If your aquarium plants start to perform weakly, then there is a greater possibility of algae buildup. So, there is no reason for you to think twice about whether to buy aquarium-safe fertilizers or not now that you know the potential risk of not adding fertilizer to your fish tank plants.

If you aren’t able to provide the necessary amount of plant food that your plants need, it is well hard for them to grow healthily and they are more likely to produce flimsy, spindly stems that come with skimpy and pale leaves. And, they would be more apt to die.

The required quantity. This shall rely on the number and type of fish tank plants you currently grow, how intense your aquarium lighting is and the number of fish you keep in the tank.

Other Important Factors To Consider

What is an aquarium plant fertilizer? How does it work?

Plant fertilizers are regarded as plant foods in that they contain macronutrients and micronutrients that live aquatic plants need in order to thrive successfully inside the tank. These are generally available as a substrate or in liquid form. The former typically lasts longer, while, the latter needs to be dosed more periodically. And, because there are really no evident distinctions in terms of their efficiency, aquarium owners can choose which one to get to feed their fish tank plants.

In line with this, if you prefer, fertilizers can be made right at your own home or you can buy one as these are readily available on the market. Basically, adding plant foods to encourage aquarium plant growth must merely be considered in moderate to heavily planted fish tanks.

Fertilizers come with a number of indispensable components required for the fish tank plant growth. They contain the most vital macronutrients that provide the necessary strength and health for your aquatic plants to grow prosperously. The work of calcium is to aid in imparting the plant’s colors. To put simply, this greatly helps in maintaining fresher-looking and greener plants inside the tank.

Various forms of fertilizers whether homemade or commercialized do a very substantial job at establishing the foundation for a well-balanced system and fascinating fish tank growth.

What are the different types of aquarium plant fertilizers?

• Pre-packed Substrates

These types are special soils that are primarily designed for fish tank use. There is only a slight need to add additional fertilizers since these already contain the ingredients that root-feeding plants especially require. These are ideal for plants that are heavy root feeders such as Dwarf Baby Tears, Amazon Sword, Dwarf Hair Grass, Sagittaria, Cryptocoryne and Vallisneria.

Therefore, if you do not prefer to add heavy root feeders to your aquarium, it is not necessary to utilize this type of fertilizer. If you are considering adding this to your current tank, it could put off adequate ammonia to exterminate all of your fish. In such manner, it is necessary to keep your fish in a separate tank when you need to add the substrate again every few years.

• Liquid Aquarium Fertilizers

These types generally dissolved in water when you pour them into the fish tank water. Moreover, they are highly recommended for plants that directly feed from the water column such as Anubias, Java Fern, African Water Fern, Brazilian Pennywort and Mosses.

• Aquarium Fertilizer Root Tabs

These are known for being tiny pieces of compressed plant foods. They are especially intended to be utilized if you have an inert substrate in your aquarium, such as sand or gravel.

When using this, carefully bury the root tab down in the gravel, in a sphere surrounding the plants that feed from the roots. Afterwards, you will see that the tans gradually dissolve and the plant root consumes the nutrients they hold off.

Fundamentally, this is a stunning alternative if you wish to keep heavy root feeders; nonetheless, you do not prefer the struggle and cost of a pre-packed substrate.

Why do you need aquarium plant food? (Benefits)

As mentioned previously, fertilizers do wonders in providing the vital nutrients that live aquatic plants need in order to grow auspiciously. You cannot just leave your plants alone and let them live on their own without providing them the kind of care and maintenance they seriously require.

Not to mention, adding the recommended amount of fertilizer to your aquarium can provide the following benefits:

1. Fertilizers help in warding off too much light absorption for the plants inside the tank.
2. They provide the macronutrients and micronutrients that aquatic plants especially require to grow fresher, greener and more beautiful.
3. These can block the rapid accumulation of algae inside the fish tank.
4. Liquid aquarium plant fertilizers are very easy and convenient to use.
5. They can help weak and almost dwindling plants regain their strength and be replenished again.

Depending on your preference, you can make your homemade fertilizer or you may also opt for commercially purchased ones. Whatever your choice may be, make sure that your homemade fertilizer contains only organic ingredients that won’t put your aquarium plants’ life in danger; meanwhile, if you decide to buy the commercial ones, carefully check out first if the brand you get comes with an “aquarium safe” label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can aquarium plants grow without fertilizer?

Certain aquarium plants can naturally grow without fertilizer. One of my favorite popular examples would be Marimo moss, which I put into all my tanks. It thrives without ammonia or fertilizer by getting nutrients through fish waste.

However, it’s essential to note that plants thriving without fertilizer isn’t the norm. Most aquatic plants will benefit greatly when you use plant fertilizer in aquarium tanks, whether it’s a high-quality commercial option or homemade fertilizer.

For instance, amazon swords are popular aquatic plants that benefit from fertilizers. One interesting thing about them is most people assume amazon swords need root tabs. However, they function best with high-quality liquid fertilizer.

An excellent option would be the Easy Green All-in-One Aquarium Co-Op Fertilizer. It has been my go-to choice for years, and I haven’t had anything but positive experiences using it.

Does aquarium plant fertilizer raise nitrates?

Generally, using a plant fertilizer within your aquarium will raise nitrates. After all, these products often contain this inorganic compound, usually potassium or sodium nitrate. So their presence will naturally raise nitrate levels inside an aquarium.

But if you want to provide food for aquarium plants without raising those levels, certain fertilizers are made without nitrates. A solid example would be LCA NP Free (Nitrates and Phosphate Free) Liquid Plant Fertilizer, which is a favorite among Reddit users who own tanks with high-nitrate levels and don’t trust DIY or other options.

What nutrients do my aquarium plants need?

Aquarium plants require a wide range of nutrients to thrive. However, most people don’t know that these nutrients are separated into two categories macronutrients and micronutrients:

• Macronutrients (present in any tank in good condition): nitrogen, calcium, hydrogen, and oxygen.
• Micronutrients (provided mainly by fertilizers): carbon, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, and magnesium.

If your aquatic plants are supplied with these regularly, they should thrive without issue. After that, it becomes a matter of keeping up with regular tank maintenance. If you do, the plants will look great and offer various benefits for your fish.

When should I add fertilizer to my aquarium plants?

When starting a new tank, you need to start adding fertilizer to your aquarium plants from the first day. Otherwise, they won’t get the necessary nutrients to survive in the tank’s environment. So they’ll need some help to adjust and establish themselves.

Once they’re provided with a top-tier fertilizer, the plants will get the necessary nutrients to thrive. You then won’t have to replace them with new plants anytime soon. Trust me; adding fertilizer from the start will save you a ton of money on replacement plants.

Does fish tank water make good fertilizer?

Fish tank water does make good fertilizer. For instance, it’s loaded with viable nutrients like nitrogen and potassium. I even use it to give my household plants a boost when they aren’t growing as well as intended.

Most people are shocked by how well fish tank water works as plant manure. But I can’t recommend it enough, especially when trying to save money. Commercial fertilizers cost a pretty penny, so it’s a valuable alternative.

Are aquarium plant fertilizers bad for fish?

Aquarium plant fertilizers are not bad for fish. As a matter of fact, these serve as very important plant food that provides the plants the necessary nutrients they need to grow healthily, fresher and greener. They contain the macronutrients and micronutrients required for them to prosper, and grow strong stems and healthy roots and leaves.

In the same way, adding fertilizers immensely assists in warding off the possibility of algae accumulation. And, it is uncommon to find fertilizers these days that would harm your fish and live aquatic plants. When buying one, of course, you’ve got to go for the one that is labeled as aquarium safe.

Api Leaf Zone vs. Seachem Flourish: Which one is better?

Seachem Flourish comes with plenty of organic carbon, it has the capability to exterminate algae, it can encourage a ferrous state of iron, it is easy to use and the dosage recommendation is a piece of cake to administer and best of all, this is the ideal supplement if you have low carbon dioxide. Additionally, this is harmless for fish and aquatic plants and it is evenly concentrated.

On the other hand, API Leaf Zone is quite concentrated; it is not sweat to dose, it can provide more potassium and iron contents for plants, and it won’t in any way put the health and safety of your fish and plants at risk. Both of these brands are included in the top choices for the best aquarium plant fertilizers. As you can see, they both come with out-of-the-ordinary features that are practical and beneficial for aquarists.

Should I buy CO2 booster to use with aquarium plant fertilizers?

Buying CO2 booster to utilize with your fish tank plant fertilizers is really a great help. This will pave the way to making your aquarium plants look their best, look fresher and greener, and of course successfully maintain their health. This will aid in adding carbon that is required for the photosynthesis process.

A CO2 booster can make your aquatic plants make adequate amounts of food to sustain healthy growth. Sooner, you will see that your plants begin to look taller and grow more stems. With a sufficient amount of carbon, this should be adequate to keep the plants thriving a lot better. Assuredly, you will delight in the way your plants look and be stunned by their capability to bloom and grow beautifully in a short span of time.

How to use?

The frequency of using fish tank plant fertilizers shall hinge on what the manufacturer recommends. Some manufacturers would recommend you add it on a daily basis, after two days, on a weekly basis and the like.

Indeed, it is crucial that you strictly adhere to what the manufacturer instructs when it comes to the dosage and usage of the product. See to it utilized properly and noticeable results should already be observed in a span of two weeks.

Generally, a weekly dose should be adequate to make certain that your fish tank plants are succulent and good-looking. Essentially, there are several distinct kinds; however, an A1 and complete aquarium plant fertilizer that commonly contains potassium, iron and other vital macronutrients and some micronutrients required will be more than enough. The vital elements composed of zinc, manganese, boron, cobalt and molybdenum.

How to care & store?

It is indispensable to close the liquid fertilizer’s lid tightly after use; meanwhile, if you are using substrates, make sure that you also store them properly after adding the recommended amount to your fish tank plants. As much as possible, store it in a cool dry place away from direct heat and sunlight so as not to spoil its potency and efficiency.

Where to buy?

Aquarium plant fertilizers are easy to find. You can shop for them in local fish or pet stores in your area. Notwithstanding, if you wish to get them online, you can look for them in Petco, Petsmart, Lowes, Amazon, eBay and other highly reputable online shopping sites that many wise consumers rely on across the globe.

Conclusion

All aspects carefully contemplated, you now realize that the most trusted part about utilizing the best aquarium plant fertilizers is that you can always take pleasure in the many favors that come with it. Hence, it is quite momentous to invest only in brands that professional aquarists trust and fortunately many of these products were reviewed comprehensively above.

By happy chance, with the product reviews discussed earlier, it won’t be difficult to decide anymore which one can definitely assist you in terms of improving the overall look of your fish tank and ensuring the safety and health of your aquatic plants. Keep in mind that the levels of fertilizers must be well-balanced in order to inhibit algae buildup and unhealthy aquarium plants. Be sure to get only fish tank safe fertilizers that credible manufacturers make. It is noteworthy that if this is thoroughly accomplished, obtaining aquascape success is not inconceivable to achieve!