{"product_id":"seachem-plant-pack-fundamentals","title":"Seachem Plant Pack: Fundamentals","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEverything a new planted tank needs to get growing, in three 100 mL bottles.\u003c\/strong\u003e Seachem Plant Pack Fundamentals bundles Flourish, Flourish Iron and Flourish Excel — broad-spectrum trace elements, a dedicated iron supplement, and a liquid carbon source — as a starter dosing regime for a freshwater planted aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's aimed at a first planted tank, or as a low-commitment way to trial Seachem's core plant line before buying full-size bottles. Once macro nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) become the limiting factor rather than trace elements, the Plant Pack Enhancer (NPK) is the next step.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's in the pack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlourish (100 mL)\u003c\/strong\u003e — the broad-spectrum growth supplement: calcium, magnesium, potassium and a wide trace-element spread, plus vitamins and amino acids. Deliberately low in nitrogen and phosphorus, so it doesn't feed algae.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlourish Iron (100 mL)\u003c\/strong\u003e — a complexed ferrous (Fe²⁺) iron supplement. Plants can use both ferric and ferrous iron but take up ferrous more readily, which is what keeps red-leaved plants red and new growth strong.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlourish Excel (100 mL)\u003c\/strong\u003e — a source of readily available organic carbon. Every plant needs a carbon source; Excel supplies it without CO₂ equipment, or as a supplement alongside CO₂ injection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDosage and directions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBottle\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFrequency\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlourish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 mL (1 capful) per 250 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOnce or twice weekly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlourish Iron\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 mL (1 capful) per 200 L, or as needed to maintain ≈0.10 mg\/L iron\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAs needed — test within 30 minutes of dosing, iron is used up fast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlourish Excel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 mL per 40 L on startup or after a water change over 40%; 5 mL per 200 L for maintenance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDaily or every other day (maintenance)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf dosing Flourish alongside Flourish Trace, alternate the days rather than dosing both together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich bottle runs out first?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot the one you'd expect from the bottle sizes — all three are 100 mL, but Flourish Excel is dosed daily rather than weekly, so it empties in real time long before the other two. As a worked example on a 200 L tank: Flourish lasts roughly 20 doses at once-or-twice weekly (around 10–20 weeks); Flourish Iron is dosed to a test reading rather than a fixed schedule; Flourish Excel at the maintenance rate is a 5 mL dose every day or two, so a 100 mL bottle covers only around 20–40 days. Budget on reordering Excel well before the other two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e new or lightly-stocked freshwater planted aquariums getting their first dosing routine started. Safe around shrimp and other freshwater invertebrates at labelled doses.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e reef or marine tanks. Not a source of the macro nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium — see the Plant Pack Enhancer (NPK) once those become limiting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSafety\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcel is an organic carbon source rather than an inert additive — dose at the label rate rather than overdosing for a faster result, and keep an eye on sensitive shrimp or very soft-bodied invertebrates after starting, backing off the dose if you see any change in their behaviour. Iron is used up quickly in the water column; if you're testing to a target, test within about 30 minutes of dosing for an accurate reading.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeachem Plant Pack Enhancer (NPK)\u003c\/strong\u003e — the macro-nutrient side of a complete dosing regime, for once trace elements and carbon are no longer the limiting factor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn iron test kit\u003c\/strong\u003e — iron depletes fast, so a quick test is more useful here than for most other dosed nutrients.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFull-size Flourish, Flourish Iron or Flourish Excel bottles\u003c\/strong\u003e — once you know this line suits your tank and want to stop refilling from a 100 mL starter bottle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCovered by Seachem's standard quality guarantee in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Standard shipping; no cold chain or special handling required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs this enough to fully dose a planted tank long-term?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a starter kit at 100 mL per bottle — enough to trial the line and get a new tank started, but expect to move to full-size bottles once you've settled on a dosing routine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhich bottle will I need to reorder first?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost always Flourish Excel — it's dosed daily rather than weekly, so a 100 mL bottle runs out much faster in real time than the other two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes this pack include the macro nutrients (NPK)?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — Flourish is deliberately low in nitrogen and phosphorus. Add the Plant Pack Enhancer (NPK) once macro nutrients, not trace elements, are limiting growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs Flourish Excel safe with shrimp?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost aquarists dose it around shrimp without issue at the label rate, but some shrimp and soft-bodied invertebrates are sensitive — start at the standard dose and watch their behaviour rather than dosing extra for a faster result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy test iron so soon after dosing?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIron is taken up by plants and oxidised quickly, so a reading taken more than 30 minutes after dosing will already read lower than what you actually added.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Seachem","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54773860106531,"sku":"724902-1105","price":53.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/1105-plant-pack-fundamentals.png?v=1782710397","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/seachem-plant-pack-fundamentals","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}