fertilizing in vivaria

[critterguy]

What are your thoughts of fertilizing in a vivaria-particularly epiphytes/moss on synthetic backgrounds and the like? I know that inorganic fertilizer tends to be a nono when frogs are concerned...but I suppose spot applied in dilute amounts it might be ok?

[Paul]

It is a planted terrarium, I take it?

Fertilizer of any kind tends to be problematic as salt /mineral build up over time seems to be inevitable. If one doesn't mind ripping the set-up apart every so often, then not an issue. Likewise if one has a set-up in which water runs through the media and thus can occasionally be drained of mineral laden water and replaced with fresh water. I do not fall into either of the aforementioned categories and as such rarely fertilize. On those rare occasions when I do, only the plants that can be removed from the tank get fertilized, rinsed, drained and put back in the tank get anything.

I'll be interested to see what Tindo and others have found works for them.

[critterguy]

Most people do setup false bottoms so could flush if need be. But salt buildup to me suggests too much fertilizer in this case-there should be a happy medium where you can add just enough for the plants to need no?

[Tindomul]

Hi,

I have not used any fertilizer in the vivaria. However no I do have one with a false bottom which would allow me to flush the tank. I think that I will fertilize a few times a year, very weakly though. Some things I like to do though are filling the tank with pill bugs that eat dead plants only. After a day or so you see their poop everywhere (good fertilizer). Fruit flies do the same thing. [/FONT]