Planta Gold 7

[Shadow_Arbor]

I have Dennerle's Planta Gold 7 which is supposed to be some sort of plant nutrient + plant hormones\enzymes that increase cell division etc. etc. Over the past few years I've used it in my aquarium in an on again off again fashion. I recently considered starting to use it again as I have about 1-2 years supply left but It is a bit of a hassle to every week and I can also sell what I have left and reinvest that money in other aspects of my hobby (broke University student...)

Does anyone have any opinions that are based on experience? Specifically experience with very high end planted tanks.

Link to the official product page info: https://dennerle.com/en/products/aquaristic/plant-care/special-fertilization/plantagold-7

[Fish Folk]

I hope others with more plant experience can weigh in. @Patrick_G may be more tuned into the plant specialists here on the forum.

For what it's worth, I'll toss in a few questions and thoughts:

(1) As you have used it on and off, have you noticed any remarkably positive effects from its usage in your aquarium(s)?

(2) I am supremely ignorant with the idea of natural plant enzymes, but when I read descriptions like: "special compound," "secret recipe," "stimulate," "strengthen," etc . . . questions come to mind. Bottom line [a] _does it work_? [b] _how does it fulfill on these superlatives_?

(3) You mention being a student. Everything is going to cost more. My approach would be to narrow down and focus for a season. Depending on how invested you are across multiple tanks, consider just keeping one tank going well. If the Plants Gold 7 works for you, and if you've already got it on hand, then use it!

[Patrick_G]

In the gardening world people use all kinds of rooting enzymes, hormones and microbial inoculation products. They are somewhat controversial, but lots of folks use them, 

I’m with fish folk in being skeptical of this one. There’s a lot of word salad in the description, but the ingredients make the product sound like a regular fertilizer with a big dose of extra iron. I’m sure it’ll help your plants, just maybe not any more than something like Easy Green. 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi @Shadow_Arbor

I agree with @Patrick_G, the only nutrient listed in that entire description is chelated iron and depending upon the pH of the tank that iron may or may not even be usable by the plants.  I am not a big believer in 'additives', nutrients yes but additives no.  If the product was a great as the description claims you would think you would see it mentioned regularly on planted tank forums, FB pages, etc but you do not.

In life I found there are a lot of 'snake oil' peddlers out there that make exaggerated claims about a product (not just fish related) with little if any scientific evidence to back up those claims.  -Roy