Root tabs - do you use them?

[Art]

Some people swear by root tabs, others never use them. What do you do?

 

[Immortal1]

This will be a fun topic to follow. Being as I just switched to Oase Scaperline substrate I am sure at some point this very topic will become relevant.

 

[Art]

ATM, I'm a stems guy. This means I pull up plants fairly often and replant.

What I've learned is that root tabs are not very good if you're disturbing the substrate often. You end up pulling the dissolved/dissolving tab into your water column leading to a mess. However, Dennis Wong made a good point that if you are going to try nitrate limitation to get some of your plants redder, then root tabs may be a good way to also have nutrient hogs that want higher nitrate. You just feed them via root tabs.

 

[anewbie]

Yea i use them now and then mostly around crypts and swords - and they do seem to give a growth spurt. I have a little purple aflame i've been nuturing for years - it doesn't get very large but it does seem to keep on ticking.

 

[Achi]

Some people swear by root tabs, others never use them. What do you do?

So I have several tanks and in one of them I run BDBS, and I use tabs, I was using osmocote but I don’t like them balls floating up and Algea spikes. So I made my own tabs with Mexican red clay. The home made tabs worked well but I am a lazy aquarist so I bought some APT tabs. I like them so far. But if you have the time make your own root tabs to compliment what ever you are running. You can calibrate what ever you want. It is not hard to make root tabs.

 

[P.Isley]

In addition to root tabs, I add a few handfuls of fresh aquasoil at nearly every weekly water change. I find I have larger, more hardy and healthy growth with this practice and there are some plants (Apongeton, and nymphaea, for example) that don’t seem to grow well for me without it!

 

[Art]

So I have several tanks and in one of them I run BDBS, and I use tabs, I was using osmocote but I don’t like them balls floating up and Algea spikes. So I made my own tabs with Mexican red clay. The home made tabs worked well but I am a lazy aquarist so I bought some APT tabs. I like them so far. But if you have the time make your own root tabs to compliment what ever you are running. You can calibrate what ever you want. It is not hard to make root tabs.

I've never tried to roll my own tabs. What's the recipe so they don't fall apart immediately?

 

[Art]

In addition to root tabs, I add a few handfuls of fresh aquasoil at nearly every weekly water change. I find I have larger, more hardy and healthy growth with this practice and there are some plants (Apongeton, and nymphaea, for example) that don’t seem to grow well for me without it!

Hmm. That's interesting. Never heard of anyone doing that.

 

[Achi]

I've never tried to roll my own tabs. What's the recipe so they don't fall apart immediately?

I dry them well before I use them but they last a few weeks
I’ll find the main recipe that I modify accordingly for my plants

 

[Achi]

Root tabs diy

175 grams of clay (Mexican red clay)
45 grams of CSM+B micronutrients
65 grams of K2SO4 Potassium Sulfate
35 grams KNO3 Potassium Nitrate (optional and can use UREA)
30 grams KH2PO4 Potassium Phosphate (monobasic)
This will make about 180 to 200 root tabs.

This works good for heavy root feeders and last about 2-3 months
Great in sand substrate

Modify nitrate less and more K for aroids

Add more p for active soils ie Amazonia, landen etc.

Make smaller tabs for smaller tanks

I usually roll them into pill shapes it’s easier to insert

 

[*Ci*]

@Achi, do you roll the salts into the middle of the clay pill or do you mix them right into the clay and then form the shape?

 

[Art]

@Achi, do you roll the salts into the middle of the clay pill or do you mix them right into the clay and then form the shape?

My question exactly. What's the technique here?

 

[gkishoreg]

Thanks for sharing. But surprised to see no NH4 source in it.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Interesting topic.

I've been experimenting with a couple different varieties of root tabs, ie. ADA bottom plus and LCA root tabs. (Liverpool Creek Aquariums, an Australian based company)

I have ADA Amazonia Version II soil, 10cm deep, and it's just hit 12 months old. I had reached out to @Dennis Wong when i first set up the tank, and he recommended enriching the soil after a few months. About 6 months in, i started adding an LCA root tab here and there. I recently pulled a bunch of Ludwigia Cuba to trim and replant, and the roots were covered in small pieces of the LCA tabs, making an unsightly mess when pulled to the surface. I'm undecided if I'll still use the LCA tabs or not. However, the ADA bottom plus are similarly coloured to ADA soil, so I'll see how they go.

I'm still reasonably new in the hobby, with a heap to learn still, so I'm always welcoming to advice from others more experienced.

Cheers