Root Tabs?

Riven02

AC Members
Mar 18, 2007
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I read good and bad opinions on root tabs.

I have many crypts so I have been using them, but I made a mistake and brought one to the surface while gravel vacing. I read this can cause bad algae outbreaks.

This got me thinking I wonder if I really have to use these, and how many I have uprooted and not noticed.

I dose with flourish 1x a week, but only have typical gravel substraint.

What is ya'll opinion?

Can cypts flourish without them?

Are they worth the risk of bringing to the surface?
 
i wish i had taken pictures of my excessively BRIGHT green 75g tank to prove it..i battled it for a month before i finally gave in and believed it was the root tabs.. all it took was an uproot of ALL plants, a MAJOR water change, and a THOROUGH gravel vac, and i was back on track.. took another week or so to clear up, with small daily PWC, but now it's back to being perfectly clear, and no more root tabs for me. :)
 
I use a quarter of one at the base of all of the heavy rootfeeding plants I own. MANY people use them with no issues, and I have seen crypts and various swords benefit from one being placed underneath, especially when not using a plant specific substrate. There is only a risk if you uproot them, and a quarter of one getting into the water column isn't anything a large water change can't fix.
 
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