Can I dose LCA Carbon Plus and Seachem Excel at the same time?
No – the active chemical in both products is Glutaraldehyde, and using both products at the same time could be harmful to livestock.
Is LCA Carbon Plus shrimp safe?
Yes. When dosed correctly, LCA Carbon Plus should not harm shrimp or fish.
Is LCA Carbon Plus “liquid CO2”, or a replacement for pressurised CO2?
No. LCA Carbon Plus provides bio-available carbon and micronutrients to boost plant growth. However it is not liquid CO2 or a replacement for pressurised CO2.
I have pressurised CO2 in my aquarium, is it safe to use LCA Carbon Plus as well?
Yes. LCA Carbon Plus can be a great supplement for a tank using pressurised CO2 and will also help to suppress algae.
How does LCA Carbon Plus compare to Excel?
LCA Carbon Plus is at least double the concentration, and unlike Excel it also includes micro nutrients to boost plant growth
Is LCA Carbon Plus a fertiliser?
Yes and no. LCA Carbon Plus is primarily for increasing levels of bio-available carbon in your planted tank, and inhibiting growth of algae. However, it also supplies a small amount of micro nutrients. With the carbon and micro nutrients working together you will notice increased growth in your planted tank.
Can I dose LCA All In One or other LCA fertilisers while treating my tank with LCA Triple B?
Yes. You should keep fertilising as normal to avoid fluctuating nutrient levels.
Why does it say I need to turn off CO2 and increase aeration when using LCA Triple B?
The active product in LCA Triple B is Glutaraldehyde, which in higher concentrations has the possibility to reduce oxygen levels in aquariums. Ensuring you have adequate oxygen levels in your tank before dosing LCA Triple B is strongly recommended.
Is LCA Triple B shrimp/fish safe?
Yes. When dosed as per instructions, LCA Triple B should not harm shrimp or fish. However, all tanks and livestock are different – if you notice fish or other livestock exhibiting signs of stress, perform a 50% water change immediately and increase oxygenation.
Can I use LCA Triple B on algae types other than BBA?
Yes! LCA Triple B will weaken and reduce the growth of most types of algae including BBA.
I have shrimp in my aquarium - is it safe to use LCA All In One?
Yes! LCA All In One can be used safely in tanks with shrimp. However, LCA All In One Shrimp Safe is also available, which has been developed for shrimp keepers who want total peace of mind or keep more sensitive varieties of shrimp. It contains lower levels of copper and other micro nutrients.
Do I really need to do 50% weekly water changes if I’m using LCA All In One fertilisers?
Yes. LCA fertilisers such as Premium All In One, Shrimp Safe All In One use the Estimative Index method of fertilising. This means when dosed correctly, the fertilisers supply an excess of nutrients to ensure there are no plant deficiencies. At the end of each week, the 50% water change removes any excess nutrients to “reset” levels.
Is there a fertiliser where I can do a 30% weekly water change?
Yes. LCA Low Tech Complete, LCA Advanced Red, LCA PPS Pro. is tailored for 30% weekly water change
What makes LCA All In One different to other fertilisers like Flourish or EasyLife?
LCA All In One provides all the macro and micro nutrients needed for even the most demanding planted tank. Most other fertilisers supply only macro or micro nutrients, not both, and in much smaller amounts.
My tank is smaller than 100 litres – how can I dose LCA fertilisers accurately?
LCA Fertilisers can be safely diluted with water, or you can measure using a syringe or medicine dropper, remembering the standard dosage is 0.02ml per litre or 0.06ml per litre in high tech tanks.
I’m using LCA Advanced Red but my plants are still green – why?
Apart from nitrate limitation, CO2 and lighting play the biggest role in the colouration of red plants. If your red plants are green, consider increasing your CO2 levels and upgrading your lighting. The spectrum, number of red LED chips and other factors all play a part in making red plants appear more vibrant.
Do I need to use root tabs if I’m already using LCA liquid fertilisers?
Root tabs can be useful to enrich inert substrates (such as gravel or plain sand) quickly, or to provide a boost for specific plants. However, if you are using LCA liquid fertilisers they will eventually work their way into your substrate – so root tabs are not necessarily required – but they are useful!
Why do LCA fertilisers contain phosphates? Don’t they cause algae?
This is a common misconception. As with any nutrient, an imbalance will cause algae to appear. Phosphate is required by plants to flourish – if your levels are too low, algae appears – if they are too high, algae can appear. It’s all about balance.
What sort of water should I mix LCA dry fertilisers with?
You can use tap water, but distilled water is recommended. The reason for this is because tap water can have unknown minerals or other elements in it.
Which LCA fertiliser is right for my planted aquarium?
There is no easy answer to this question. LCA All In One is a great choice for most aquariums, however there is a wide range of fertilisers to suit specific needs. All planted aquariums are different and accordingly, have different requirements.
I have a newly set up tank with Amazonia or similar substrate – when should I start fertilising, and how much?
It’s a good idea to start fertilising immediately so your plants have access to all the nutrients they need. However, start with the lowest dosage rate and increase it as your plant mass increases/grows. Another alternative is to use Low Tech Complete and Advanced Red as they both contain very low nitrates and phosphate levels.
I have a newly set up tank with inert substrate (e.g river sand ) – which fertiliser do I use.
Premium All in One or Shrimp Safe All in One. Start at a minimum dose. For optimum results use LCA Root Tabs as well.
MY NITRATES OR PHOSPHATES ARE ALWAYS HIGH AND I DON’T WANT TO ADD MORE WITH FERTILISER. WHAT CAN I DO?
LCA NP Free is an all in one formulation tailored to supply no additional nitrates or phosphates, just Potassium and micro nutrients. Alternatively, you can target specific nutrients with LCA’s range of individual micro and macro fertilisers.
When adding LCA fertilisers per litre, do I measure my total tank volume or the water volume?
Measure the amount of water that is in your tank, taking into consideration all of your plants, rocks, driftwood and substrate that reduce overall volume. If you fertilise for the total tank volume instead of current water volume you will not dose accurately.
Will LCA Crystal Clear have an effect on my nitrate levels?
Yes, but it should only remove nitrates to approximately 20-40ppm.
Which store can i purchase lca products
You can find our LCA Products from the Stockist category.