2HR Aquarist · Starter and bacteria
APT Balance
New aquasoil tanks during cycling, or after a big rescape or filter clean.
1 model
Gear catalogue · 20 fertilisers & treatments
Aquarium fertilisers & treatments, compared properly
Liquid fertilisers, root tabs, remineralisers, starter bacteria and algae treatments. From 2HR Aquarist, ADA. Match them to your tank, then put up to four side by side.
TL;DR, choosing aquarium fertilisers & treatments
Plants need three things in balance: light, CO2 and nutrients. Fertilisers cover the nutrients. Most tanks do best with one all-in-one liquid dosed a little and often, plus root tabs pushed under heavy root feeders like swords and crypts. Aquasoil feeds roots for its first year or so, but the water column still needs topping up. How much you dose depends on how fast the tank grows: a low-light tank without CO2 needs very little, while a high-light CO2 tank can use far more. If you start from RO water, a remineraliser puts back the calcium and magnesium plants and shrimp need. Treatments like spot algae removers and dechlorinators are here too, because they sit on the same shelf and solve the same problems. When plants show a specific symptom, check the deficiency guide before reaching for a single-nutrient bottle.
How to choose
- Start with one all-in-one liquid. Add single nutrients only when a deficiency shows up.
- Match the dose to your light and CO2. Low-tech tanks need a fraction of a high-tech dose.
- Use root tabs or a root feed for swords, crypts and other heavy root feeders in inert substrate.
- If you use RO water, add a remineraliser to set GH before worrying about fertiliser.
- Heavy fish load? Choose a fertiliser without nitrate and phosphate, the fish already supply them.
2HR Aquarist · Foliar spray
APT Dew
The dry-start phase of a carpet, and emersed mosses and plants above the waterline.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Nutrient aquasoil
APT Feast
New planted tanks and soft-water shrimp setups that want a feeding substrate from day one.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Algae treatment
APT Fix
Planted tanks with patches of black beard algae or hair algae on hardscape and slow plants.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Algae treatment
APT FixLite
Moss-heavy and delicate-plant tanks that still need to tackle algae.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Root feed
APT Jazz
Swords, crypts, lilies and other heavy root feeders, especially in older aquasoil or inert gravel.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Water conditioner
APT Pure
Anyone doing water changes with tap water.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Remineraliser
APT Sky
Soft-water planted tanks and Caridina shrimp tanks started from RO water.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Remineraliser
APT Sky Plus
RO-water tanks keeping Neocaridina shrimp or plants that prefer a little buffering.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Starter and bacteria
APT Start
Brand-new tanks at the planting stage, before the tank is flooded or filled.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · Micro and trace
APT1
Well-stocked tanks where nitrate already reads high, or where you dose nitrogen separately.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · All-in-one liquid
APT3
CO2-injected planted tanks with an average fish load that want one simple fertiliser.
1 model
2HR Aquarist · All-in-one liquid
APTe (APT EI)
Fast-growing, high-light CO2 tanks where you do a large water change every week.
1 model
ADA · Root feed
Bottom Plus
Swords, crypts, vallisneria and other root feeders, especially in older or inert substrate.
1 model
ADA · Single nutrient
ECA Plus
Tanks where new growth has gone pale or yellow from an iron shortage.
1 model
ADA · Single nutrient
Green Brighty Iron
Fast-growing and red plants showing pale new growth from low iron.
1 model
ADA · Micro and trace
Green Brighty Mineral
Planted tanks of any tech level that need trace elements topped up.
1 model
ADA · Single nutrient
Green Brighty Neutral K
Tanks with pinholes in older leaves from low potassium, especially with hard tap water.
1 model
ADA · Single nutrient
Green Brighty Nitrogen
Heavily planted, lightly stocked tanks where older leaves yellow from low nitrogen.
1 model
ADA · Supplement
Green Gain Plus
Freshly trimmed or newly planted tanks where you want faster regrowth of new shoots.
1 model
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing aquarium fertilisers & treatments.
Do planted tanks need fertiliser?
Almost always, eventually. Fish waste and aquasoil cover some needs at first, but as plants grow they use up nitrogen, potassium, iron and trace elements. A light, regular dose of an all-in-one liquid keeps growth steady and stops deficiencies before they show.
What is the difference between macro and micro nutrients?
Macros are the nutrients plants use in larger amounts: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Micros and trace elements, such as iron, manganese and boron, are needed in tiny amounts but are just as essential. All-in-one fertilisers contain both.
Can fertiliser cause algae?
Rarely on its own. Algae usually comes from too much light for the amount of CO2 and nutrients, or from a nutrient running out. Dose to match your light, keep the photoperiod steady and do regular water changes, and fertiliser helps plants outcompete algae.
Are liquid fertilisers safe for shrimp?
Mainstream aquarium fertilisers are generally shrimp safe at normal doses, but avoid products with added copper and introduce any new fertiliser slowly. Shrimp tanks usually need lighter dosing anyway.
Other gear
Specs come from the maker or a major retailer’s listing and are checked where we can. Makers revise products, so confirm the figures on the product page before you buy. Product photos are supplied by the brands and their distributors.