Root tablet?

red devil

red devil

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Jan 7, 2003
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In a post in another part of AC someone mentioned using a root tablet for plants. Can someone elaborate? I googled and did not find anything like this.

Also...is there some kind of styrofoam I can put on the bottom of the tank - then put gravel or sand or soil on top - that will encourage the roots to take hold at that level and will hold nutrients for them? and importantly is a system that I can replenish nutrients?
 
I use insulation styrofoam boards. But plants don't root in them and nor do they provide any benefits to them. I use the boards to ease the pressure of rocks, driftwood etc on the bottom glass as it distributes the weight so it isnt so direct. Plus it allows me to use a little less substrate to make the tank look full.

Now as far as substrates it depends on the plants you're keeping. If they aren't heavily root dependent you actually don't need a substrate at all! If they are, then there are many options, choices, opinions, etc.

I would ignore the "plant" substrates like ADA, Eco-Complete, etc. Most of us seem to be coming to the conclusion that plain old sand or gravel is just as effective if not more with the addition of laterite and/or plant tabs. Save your money and avoid the "plant" substrates in my opinion.

I wish I had. There'd be more money in the back right now.
 
There are quite a few different root tab products available; here are a few listed on this website:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp24862/cl0/plantfertilizertabs?viewType=Category

as for the plant base you mentioned, there really isnt such a thing. Any smaller substrate will work in supplying the plant with nutrients. Some more expensive substrates, are seachem flouride, eco-complete, ADA,.............however if you dont have a lot of money to spend, coarse grain sand (available at home depot stores) works well.
 
Thanks! Cheap is always good :) Is there any benefit/need to mixing sand with soil? Is it helpful to put soil on the bottom and sand on the top? What about my RUGF? I usually put a rather hefty pump with it...I have these visions of streams of sand and dirt continually shooting up in the air. I make my own rugf with pvc. I guess I would need to make sure that all of the holes in the pipe are facing down...but will soil and sand support bacteria that will purify water?
 
I have RUGF + HOB on 3 tanks with sand/gravel >1/8" (about the RUGF hole size) no problems. RUGF pressure tends to keep the crud from settling Way down in the gravel. I still need to gravel vac every coupla weeks -r- so.
 
red devil said:
...but will soil and sand support bacteria that will purify water?
Click to expand...

it will have some bacteria in it............but dont expect it to replace a conventional filter.
 
legendaryfrog said:
it will have some bacteria in it............but dont expect it to replace a conventional filter.
Click to expand...

So...i am a little confused. I hope I am not going too far off the thread's topic. ..what is the benefit of using sand? I have always depended on the gravel to do a significant amount of water filtering. In one 10 gallon, with only a couple of platys I only used a rugf for 2 years and had no trouble at all.

If it does not work as well as a filtering media is it because sand is more aesthetically pleasing? Is it easier to clean? Cheaper? Better for plants to root in? :help2:
 
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