Kent Marine 00550 Pro Plant Freshwater Plant Growth Accelerator, 8-Ounce Bottle

I read the previous reviewer recommending this for starving tanks only. I have a total of 9 plants in my tank with all of them displaying problems, so I figured it fit the criteria. I was having some issues with my plants showing signs of stress and this was recommended to me by a local fish store. As protocol when I try anything new in my tank, I monitored my water parameters closely. I used 1/4 of what was recommended because it was something new to the tank, but 12 hours after my first dose my nitrates were between 80 & 160 ppm (56 gallon tank)!!! Also my ammonia was at 0.75 ppm. My fish were in serious danger, so I immediately did a 30% water change and added Seachem Prime 500ml as usual.

I thought the error was mine as a result of possible over cleaning of the gravel the day prior which would result in a mini-cycle. I decided not to use the Kent's again until I was able to get my parameters back into order. So a week later, and 3 partial water changes my parameters were back within normal ranges again. I again tried the Kent's using 1/4 of the recommended dose. 8 hours later I tested my water again and my nitrates were again above 80 ppm, ammonia was up to 0.50 ppm and nitrites were 0.25 ppm. It was very obvious to me that it was not my water changes and cleaning causing the issue, but the Kent's. I saw no improvement in my plants, but it mostly likely had to do with me conducting quick water changes.

I don't want to say this product doesn't work because I was not able to keep it in my tank long enough. However, it is likely not suited for tanks with live stock in it. You would need a very highly planted tank. I wish it would have worked for us, but it just was not the case.

When I purchased this I didn't realize that its primary source of supplements to plants came in the form of nitrates. Nitrates are generally the result of the breakdown of waste in aquarium from uneaten fish food as well as fish waste. General rule of thumb is you don't want nitrates in your aquarium as high levels are toxic to fish.

It became apparent to me that the purpose of this product was to supplement a 'starving' tank. All live aquarium plants use nitrates as a food source. Without any nitrates the plants would die. This product is best suited for a heavily planted aquarium with few fish to lace the tank with waste products that would otherwise be broken down into nitrates that the plants would utilize.

Final answer. If you have a heavily planted tank with few fish this just may be the very thing you need. Check it out in that case. If you have a lightly planted tank with a reasonable to large amount of fish, AVOID.

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