FlorinGro – Nitrogen Source for Planted Aquariums

Concentrated Nitrogen Source & Growth Accelerant for Planted Tanks

• Concentrated nitrogen in the form of nitrate
• For plant growth & long-term health
• Contains Kelp extract to encourage growth and flowering
• Formulated using extensive research on aquatic plant nutrient requirements

Plants need nitrogen more than any other major nutrient like phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is important for their growth and various metabolic processes. It helps create proteins, amino acids, coenzymes, and nucleic acids in living cells. Nitrogen is also crucial for making chlorophyll through photosynthesis, a process that converts carbon dioxide into carbohydrates to provide energy for plants.

In aquariums, some nitrogen comes from ammonia and ammonium, which are found in fish waste and decomposing organic matter. However, this might not be enough for plants, especially in heavily planted aquariums with bright lights, CO2 supplementation, and few fish. In such cases, nitrogen can become a limiting nutrient for plant growth. It can cause problems like chlorosis, where leaves turn pale, particularly the older ones on the outer edges. Nitrogen deficiency can also lead to smaller and paler new leaves and overall stunted plant growth.

FlorinGro provides nitrogen derived from nitrate compounds. While plants can use ammonium and urea effectively,  these compounds are excluded from FlorinGro because they can harm fish and other non-plant aquarium inhabitants when the aquarium’s pH is higher than 7.0. Such nitrogen sources are suitable for botanists and horticulturists working with aquatic plants but not for aquarium use. Nitrogen in FlorinGro is in the form of nitrate and should be maintained at a concentration of less than 20 ppm. Along with nitrogen, magnesium, iron, and potassium are also essential for chlorophyll production. It’s recommended to maintain iron levels between 0.05 – 0.10 ppm, magnesium levels around 5 ppm, and potassium levels between 15 – 30 ppm.

Instructions & Guidelines

Shake product well before using. The most effective method of using any ion-specific supplement is to determine the ionic concentration in the aquarium prior to supplementing. Maintain the nitrate concentration within a range of 10 – 20 ppm; it is not recommended to exceed 25 ppm nitrate in planted aquaria housing fishes and invertebrates.

Basic: Add 5 ml (1 capful) of product per 50 US-gallons (189.3 L) of aquarium water every other day or as required; this corresponds to 1 ml (~8 drops) per 10 US-gallons (37.9 L). When used in this fashion, 250 ml treats up to 2,500 US-gallons (9,464 L).

Advanced: Determine the nitrate concentration (“[NO3-]”) in the aquarium using an accurate test kit before supplementing. Each ml of FlorinGro will increase the [NO3-] in 1 US-gallon (3.785 L) of water by 17.5 ppm. Each drop (250- and 500-ml cap) will increase the [NO3-] in 1 US-gallon (3.785 L) of water by 2.2 ppm, and the [NO3-] in 20 US-gallons (75.7 L) by 0.11 ppm. If the initial [NO3-] in the aquarium is below 20 ppm, add this product at the maximum rate of 1 ml per 5 US-gallons daily until the desired concentration is attained, then dose daily or weekly as needed (see below). Always attempt to maintain the [NO3-] within a range of +/-2 ppm. To determine the dosing rate of this product once the desired [NO3-] has been acquired, measure the daily rate of nitrate uptake (i.e. the decrease in nitrate) in your aquarium by measuring the aquarium’s [NO3-] at the same time each day over a one- to two-week period. To determine the daily dosing rate (preferable to weekly dosing) for nitrate maintenance: estimate the volume of water in the entire aquarium system; divide the daily decrease in [NO3-] by 17.5; multiply this number by the volume of water in the system to get the daily dosage required (ml) to maintain a stable [NO3-]. Daily dosing maintains a more stable [NO3-] (and more natural environment) than dosing weekly, in which the [NO3-] spikes just after dosing and then gradually decreases throughout the course of the week. Heavily-planted aquaria with intense lighting, CO2 supplementation, and low- to moderate-stocking density of fishes are likely to see the most dramatic results from nitrogen supplementation. Start at a low dosage and increase it as required, but do not overdose regardless of the temptation to do so.

Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Not for human consumption.

Guaranteed Analysis: Total Nitrogen (N) as Nitrate (min) 1.50% (444 mg/oz.; 15,000 ppm)

Ingredients: Sodium nitrate, purified water, kelp extract