Blog
APT Fertilizers and Aquarium Products
APT Fertilizers & Aquarium Products
The complete guide to APT by The 2Hr Aquarist — current product names, uses, dosing concepts and how to choose the right product for your planted aquarium.
1. Who Makes APT?
APT is the planted-aquarium product ecosystem of The 2Hr Aquarist, a Singapore-based company focused on aquascaping, aquatic plant cultivation and aquarium care.
The current range covers plant fertilizers, substrate products, algae treatments, water conditioners, remineralizers and microbial-support products.
The 2Hr Aquarist’s official dealer information lists Fishkeepers Bangladesh among its Bangladesh dealers.
2. The Core APT Fertilizers
APT 1
Formerly APT Zero. A comprehensive plant fertilizer formulated with zero added nitrate and phosphate.
Best suited to tanks with a heavier fish load, sparse plant mass, or certain new aquasoil setups where nitrogen and phosphorus are already supplied by livestock or substrate.
Published dosage: 3 ml / 100 L / day. Use the manufacturer’s calculator for non-CO₂ or slow-growing setups.
APT 3
Formerly APT Complete. A balanced all-in-one fertilizer supplying macro, micro and trace nutrients.
Designed for a wide range of planted aquariums, especially systems with more plants than fish. Its nutrient ratio is intended to support strong plant growth and coloration.
Published dosage: 3 ml / 100 L / day.
APT e
The current ready-made EI-oriented fertilizer. APT e is intended for higher-demand planted systems and carries more nitrate and phosphate than APT 3.
It is particularly suited to heavily planted Dutch-style aquariums and aquarists comfortable with Estimative Index methodology.
APT e is not simply a “better” version of APT 3. It represents a different nutrient-management strategy.
3. Specialty Products
APT Jazz
APT Jazz is a solid substrate/root fertilizer, not a liquid iron supplement.
It provides slow-release ammoniacal nitrogen and other nutrients in the root zone. It is particularly useful for mature or depleted aquasoil and plants that benefit from strong root nutrition.
Published guideline: approximately 1 capsule per 16 cm² (2.5 in²), placed at least 2.5 cm / 1 inch deep.
APT Fix
APT Fix is a targeted algae treatment for BBA, hair, string, fuzz and other filamentous algae.
It is intended primarily for spot treatment. It should not be described as a conventional liquid-carbon fertilizer.
Published maximum spot dose: up to 1 ml / 10 L. Always follow current manufacturer instructions.
APT Fixlite
The gentler algae-treatment option in the APT range.
The manufacturer positions Fixlite for mosses and more delicate plants, while APT Fix is the stronger formulation for tougher established algae.
4. Water Care, Remineralization & Substrate
APT Pure
A concentrated water conditioner designed to remove chlorine and chloramines and detoxify heavy metals, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
Published dosage: 1 ml / 60 L.
APT SKY
A GH booster for RO/RODI water. It replenishes calcium, magnesium and trace minerals without intentionally altering NPK, KH or pH.
Published dosage: 10.5 g / 15 ml per 60 L of RO/RODI water.
APT Start, Feast & Jazz
The current APT ecosystem also includes substrate-focused products. APT Start is designed for new setups, APT Feast is a nutrient-rich aquasoil, and APT Jazz provides longer-term root-zone replenishment.
5. APT Dew & Biological Support
APT Dew
A foliar spray rather than a normal water-column fertilizer. It is aimed at mosses, ferns and emersed foliage in terrariums and paludariums.
APT Balance
A microbial-support product intended to support biological diversity and stability, particularly in planted aquariums.
6. APT 1 vs APT 3 vs APT e
| Feature | APT 1 | APT 3 | APT e |
|---|---|---|---|
| Added nitrate | No | Yes, nitrate-limited | Yes, higher |
| Added phosphate | No | Yes | Yes, higher |
| Typical use | More fish / fewer plants | More plants / fewer fish | High-demand planted systems |
| EI methodology | No | No | Yes |
| Ease of use | High | High | Moderate |
| Dutch-style / high-demand | Less typical | Suitable | Specifically targeted |
There is no universal “best” APT fertilizer.
The correct choice depends on the relationship between fish load, plant mass, substrate, light, CO₂ and maintenance.
APT 1, APT 3 and APT e are different nutrient strategies rather than a simple good-to-better-to-best progression.
7. Does APT Require CO₂?
No. APT fertilizers can be used in both CO₂-injected and non-CO₂ aquariums.
However, fertilizer cannot compensate for inadequate light, carbon availability, circulation or unsuitable plant selection.
The manufacturer’s guidance recommends adjusting dosage for tanks without CO₂ or those dominated by slow-growing and shade plants.
8. Does More Fertilizer Mean Faster Plant Growth?
Not automatically. Plants use nutrients in particular proportions. Supplying substantially more fertilizer than plants can use does not guarantee proportionally faster growth.
Plant performance depends on the whole system: Light + CO₂/carbon + nutrients + water chemistry + substrate + biological stability + maintenance.
9. Practical APT Routines
APT 1 + appropriate water conditioner.
APT 3 + appropriate water conditioner.
APT 3 or APT e depending on nutrient-management goals.
Consider APT Jazz for root-zone replenishment.
Correct the underlying aquarium conditions; use APT Fix or Fixlite as targeted treatment when appropriate.
Consider APT SKY or SKY PLUS according to desired GH/KH/pH characteristics.
10. Common Mistakes
- Increasing fertilizer automatically when plants grow poorly.
- Choosing a product solely because it is marketed as “stronger”.
- Treating algae without correcting unstable light, CO₂, nutrients, circulation or organic load.
- Assuming every APT product is a fertilizer.
- Using old APT Complete / Zero / EI information without checking current product names.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Is APT Complete the same as APT 3?
APT 3 is the current product corresponding to the former APT Complete formulation. Always check the current manufacturer documentation and product label.
Is APT Zero the same as APT 1?
Yes. APT Zero has been renamed APT 1. The current APT 1 formula provides comprehensive plant nutrition without added nitrate and phosphate.
Is APT EI still a separate Macro + Micro system?
Current APT documentation presents APT e as the ready-made EI-oriented fertilizer. Older articles may describe separate macro and micro products, so they should not be treated as current product-line documentation without verification.
Is APT Fix a liquid carbon fertilizer?
No. APT Fix is an algae treatment intended for targeted application. It should not be presented as a conventional liquid-carbon fertilizer.
Is APT Jazz a liquid iron supplement?
No. APT Jazz is a solid substrate/root fertilizer containing slow-release ammoniacal nitrogen and other nutrients.
Do I need every APT product?
No. Most aquariums need only a small subset of the range. Choose products according to the actual requirements of the aquarium.
Can APT be used without CO₂?
Yes. The manufacturer provides dosing guidance for tanks without CO₂ or dominated by slow-growing and shade plants.
12. Why Buy APT from Fishkeepers Bangladesh?
Fishkeepers Bangladesh is listed in The 2Hr Aquarist’s official Bangladesh dealer network. For local hobbyists, this provides a Bangladesh-based route to the brand alongside local aquarium support.
13. Final Thoughts
APT has evolved from a small fertilizer-focused lineup into a broader planted-aquarium ecosystem.
The current range covers: water-column nutrition, root-zone nutrition, substrate preparation, algae treatment, water conditioning, remineralization, microbial support and emersed-plant care.
The key principle is simple: Choose the nutrient strategy that matches the aquarium rather than simply choosing the strongest product.
