How to Use Root Tabs to Fertilize Aquarium Plants

Are your live aquatic plants not growing or dropping leaves despite a generous amount of light, liquid fertilizer? Most aquatic plants can absorb nutrients from both the water and the substrate (eg gravel, sand or aquatic soil), but some species prefer one method over the other. If your plant is a “root plant” that prefers to consume from its roots, then we need to provide it with a nutrient-rich substrate or above-ground fertilizer called roots.

What is the root tab?

Contents

Root tabs are resolvable tablets or capsules that contain a plant fertilizer. At Aquarium Co-Op, we present our Easy Root Tabs made with mineral clay and red clay containing essential plant nutrients such as: Read: how to use tabs roots

Magnesium
Nitrates
Phosphate
Potassium
Manganese
Zinc
Molybdenum
Iron

Easy Root Tabs come in green fertilizer capsules that are safe for fish even if they are water soluble.Are root tabs safe for fish, shrimp, and snails? Yes, our brand of original tabs is safe for all animals. The reason is because we use the actual soil in our roots which is not toxic if nutrients are released into the water column. Some people try to save money by making their own homemade roots or using a fertilizer made for houseplants and vegetables, but those terrestrial products can cause dangerous ammonia spikes in the water. can kill your fish and invertebrates.

Which aquatic plants need root tabs?

Cryptocorynes (or plantains), swords, tubers, carpets, and running plants all tend to feed on growing media and will benefit greatly from root knots. Stems like bacopa and moneywort can absorb fertilizer from the water or the ground, but they seem to prefer fertilizer. Plants that don’t need a substrate to grow – such as mosses, phytoplankton, anubias, and java ferns – typically don’t make much use of root tabs.

How to use root tab

Because plant roots are water-soluble, it is important to insert them into the substrate as quickly and as deeply as possible. It’s okay if Easy Root Tabs accidentally pop out or get excavated by your fish as they won’t harm water quality, but ultimately, we want root growers to have access to more nutrients in their hearts. soil. Therefore, use planter tweezers or your fingers to push the entire plant’s roots to the bottom of the medium. (Do not remove stool from the capsule, or it will dissolve in the water column.) Read more: how long does it take to change a tire | Top Q&A Insert the roots as deeply as possible into the medium, preferably underneath the roots.How many native tabs should you use? Place a tab about 5-6 inches (12-15 cm) in the grid so that they cover the entire surface. If your aquarium is heavily planted, you may need to add stumps every 4 inches (10 cm) or so. Ideally, root nodules should be planted just below or near your tree’s roots. In fact, larger trees like Amazon swords may need multiple root nodules placed in a circle around their base to keep them well nourished.

How often should you add more root tabs?

Nutrients are used up over time (even if you are using a nutrient-rich substrate) and therefore must be replenished regularly. To maintain healthy growth, we recommend adding root nodules about once a month to continuously build nutrients in the ground, especially if you are using an inert substrate such as gravel or Aquarium sand does not contain any nutrients. Also, keep in mind that as plants grow larger, they will require more root nodules. A newly planted Amazonian saber may only need 1 root node every six weeks, but three months later, the same tree may need six knots per month to maintain it. substrates, watching closely for signs of nutrient deficiencies. These symptoms may include failure to thrive, yellowing and browning, or drooping leaves (after the plant has previously grown well). For more information on providing the right nutrients to plants, read the full article linked below. Good luck with your planted aquarium and enjoy nature everyday. Read more: How to drill through bricks without cracking