Aquarium Plant Fertilizer for Lush Aquatic Plants

When your aquarium plants may benefit from feeding

In planted tanks with few or no fish, where little nutrient enters the water
Under bright lighting or added carbon dioxide, when plant demand outpaces supply
After large water changes, which remove dissolved nutrients
For tanks with inert gravel or sand rather than a nutrient-rich substrate
When plants are growing but slowly, and water quality is otherwise stable

Plant color and growth in an aquarium also depend on lighting, carbon dioxide, water changes and fish load, so dosing is one part of tank care.

Results you can see

Feeds foliage for deeper color and a brighter, more lively look.

Encourages fresh leaf and stem growth for a fuller, thriving plant.

Supports healthy, resilient roots that absorb nutrients more effectively.

Works for live aquarium plants

Java Fern
Anubias
Amazon Sword
Cryptocoryne
Java Moss
Vallisneria
Dwarf Hairgrass
Rotala

How to use

Add to tank water

1 tsp per 10 gallons of water, ideally in a high-flow area

High light tanks: 1-2 times a week
Add to tank water

1 tsp per 10 gallons of water, ideally in a high-flow area

Low light tanks: 2-4 times a month

What's inside

The 1-0.5-3 ratio is deliberately low in nitrogen and phosphate because a planted aquarium is a closed system where excess nutrients feed algae before plants — the goal is to supply just enough for plant growth while keeping the water lean. The 1% nitrogen and 0.5% phosphate cover basic plant needs, while the 3% potash supports growth and color, since potassium is one of the nutrients aquarium plants deplete fastest in a well-lit tank. The nitrogen is nitrate nitrogen, taken up directly by plants through the water column.

Beyond NPK: sea kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum) for natural growth compounds, plus 0.5% calcium and 0.25% magnesium and a full trace-micronutrient package — iron, sulfur, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, and molybdenum. Iron is the key one for planted tanks: it drives the deep green and red coloration in aquarium plants and is depleted quickly under strong light. The low overall concentration is intentional — it lets you dose regularly for plant health, with a blend formulated to help minimize algae growth.

Label facts

NPK 1-0.5-3 with 0.5% calcium, 0.25% magnesium and 0.05% sulfur, plus iron, manganese, zinc, boron, copper and molybdenum.

Derived from kelp (ascophyllum nodosum), potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, boric acid, copper sulfate, ferric sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate.

Store cool and dark. Guaranteed 12 months from purchase; keeps up to 2 years.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I dose my planted aquarium?

Aquarium Plant Fertilizer is dosed to the light your tank runs, because light sets how fast plants grow and how quickly they draw down nutrients. In a high-light tank, add 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons 1–2 times a week; in a low-light tank, 2–4 times a month is enough. Add it near the filter outflow or another high-flow spot so it disperses through the water column. Dose by the water your tank actually holds, allowing for substrate and hardscape, not the size printed on the tank.

Can I use this in a tank with fish and shrimp?

Aquarium Plant Fertilizer is formulated for the low nutrient levels a planted tank needs, and it is dosed at 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water. Keep to that dose; sudden nutrient swings stress any tank regardless of the source. One point for shrimp keepers: the trace package includes copper, and some invertebrates are sensitive to it, so introduce the fertilizer gradually and watch how the tank responds. Dose to the water volume and add it into the flow rather than over livestock.

Will fertilizer cause algae in my aquarium?

Overdosing can, but in a planted tank algae is more often driven by a mismatch between light and CO2 than by fertilizer on its own. Aquarium Plant Fertilizer carries a deliberately low 1-0.5-3 ratio so plants get what they need without loading the water column, which is the balance a closed system wants. Strong light without enough nutrients or CO2 for your aquarium plants to use it is the classic trigger. Keep dosing in step with your light and run regular water changes. Our blend is formulated to help minimize algae growth when dosed to the tank's volume.

Do I need CO2 to use this?

No. Aquarium Plant Fertilizer works in low-tech tanks without added CO2 and in high-tech tanks with it; what changes is the dosing frequency. In a low-light tank without CO2, plants grow slowly and the 2–4 times a month schedule covers them. In a high-light tank with CO2, plants grow fast and pull potassium, iron and nitrogen from the water quickly, so you dose 1–2 times a week. CO2 speeds growth but isn’t required. Match your dosing to how fast your tank is actually growing.

When will I see results?

New growth shows the difference first: stronger stems and better color as plants take up the potassium and iron in Aquarium Plant Fertilizer; iron in particular drives the deep greens and reds. How quickly depends on light, CO2 and how fast the tank is growing. Fast-growing stem plants show it first, while rosettes and carpets take longer. Leaves already damaged won’t recover, so you’re feeding what grows next. Because growth depends as much on light and CO2 as on nutrients, a balanced tank shows the clearest improvement.

Let's Start Growing!

Choose your size

What's inside your bottle — macronutrients (N-P-K), core minerals, micronutrients, and natural kelp