Can you use Jobs fertilizer sticks

[maverick2402]

in a planted tank.We have a large box of them that we use for our house plants and was wondering if they work in a planted tank.

[Timmain42]

Please don't. There are chems in Jobe's that are specifically for terrestrial plants and can cause algae outbreaks when submerged. Don't ask me which ones, use the Search function here on AC and you'll see several threads on this very topic.

[maverick2402]

Thanks thats all I needed to hear.

[SnakeIce]

The other problem with them is that the N is at least partially in the form of amonia which would cause problems in a stocked tank. You can have lots of nutrients in the tank as long as they are balanced. Some of the nutrients in the Jobes spikes might leach faster than others and that would give you a imbalance which would lead to algae growth.

[ergo sum]

I buried one in the substrate of my 30g tank yesterday.

[magicmagni]

People do use them, but as I understand it they use the ones for ferns because they have a more compatible N-P-K to aquatic plants. I've never messed with them though so I can't say it works from experience.

[plantbrain]

The problem is NH4/urea presence otherwise we could dose regular terrestrial ferts to our tanks.

The type of stick does not matter, the NH4(called ammonium/ammonical nitrogen etc)/Urea does matter.

That's what causes the problems.

Use KH2PO4/KNO3 instead.

See www.gregwatson.com for dirt cheap cost and impecable service

Regards,
Tom Barr

[ergo sum]

I would like to understand this. A little NH4, so what? It can't be taken out by the filters, the plants? I realize the relationship between NH4 and green water but really 2% urea? What real harm is there in adding one of these things deep in the substrate to provide for rooted plants? I find that hard to believe. 50 of them are $1.97 is pretty **** cheap and easy.

I can understand that I don't want too many of these things in my tank, and it probably would not be good to use this as a major supplement, but compared with most other things, flourish tabs, eco complete, onyx sand this stuff is cheap.

[plantbrain]

It's not when they are deep in the substrate, it is when you pull one up later after you forgot about it in 2 months.

I have warned you, you can learn the hard way on your own. You may be okay for awhile, but at some point, folks pull them up when up rooting, cleaning etc.

The risk is not worth it for most folks. You really do not get that much gain out of them either. You get what you pay for in this case.

You could argue the same thing about DIY CO2 as well vs pressurized.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[ergo sum]

Well I tend to learn everything the hard way. But what people do tell me does sink in eventually. Slowly. I will remember your warning.

[plantbrain]

I fully understand, I'm extremely hard headed.
It is a good quality in most cases and makes folks tenacious.
Tenacity is good if it's well directed.

Try some experiments with jobes sticks, then you'll know and the issue will be resolved in your own mind and analysis.

Take a small test tank and add KNO3 first to 20ppm and wait 3-7 days, next add a jobes to the water column with good light/CO2.
Wait 2-3 days.

What do you see?
You can do this with a small container and DIY CO2 etc and toss some extra plants in there.

Next clean the tank.

Folks told me that high NO3 causes algae, high Fe causes algae, high PO4 causes algae.

I added them and got no algae.
So I am suspicious by nature.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[ergo sum]

I read about your experiments, (On the Krib I think.) I understand what you are saying. Right now I am simply trying to supplement Sagittaria subulata. I know where the spike is and I know I am not about to move it.

This stuff is spreading but it is struggling. With the old leaves turning translucent. I have been adding No Salt because I thought that might be K. There isn't all that much light in the first place. (~1.5wpg) So I just thought I would push a spike down under the runners and see if that would perk it up a bit.

[steveywinet]

Listen to Tom. I used root stakes as a general rule when I first setup my tank. Everytime I added a new plant I put a stick or two deep in the subtrate nearby. Just as Tom suggested, I would occaisionally disturb one. Boom! Major algae outbreak. I understand you're trying to treat a specific situation and maybe you will have better luck with it than I, but personally, I will not be using them in the future.

[ergo sum]

I am listening. Listening is a two way street. Dialogue isn't such a bad thing.

[steveywinet]

Ditto -- It's the reason you and I are here. I've read many of your posts Ergo, and I think you know your stuff -- just passing along my personal experience.