Trying to spread this article to the forums I frequent as I still get questions for my DIY Root-tabs, which were originally a cheaper solution to the expensive Seachem product. But I think this method of freezing osmocoat might even trump my solution. Enjoy...
my only qualms at this point is reducing N. i'm afraid that the osmocoat might not be a viable solution in my tank for that reason alone. it's a low light tank with a semi-high stock level and my N can get up there without supplementing at all. your root tabs are a perfect solution for that reason but i don't see any osmocoat without N (which is to be expected from a terrestrial fert).
in a year or 2 when i have the extra to substantiate adding pressurized co2 i can add the second bulb to my fixture and try out the osmocoat. until then i'm afraid this is an ingenious idea that simply would overload my tank in that aspect... actually both of them, but i only plan on going "high tech" with one.
tom has posted this idea here too. the discussion over there was a much better discussion that addressed many more questions though. thanks for posting it.
I doubt you need to worry much about nutrient dosing in a lower light non CO2 high stock load tank.
Adding more however would not cause harm and osmocoat slowly gives off nutrients, not all at once. So there's 2 risk factors that are low concerning N.
You might not need more ferts........but doing so does not impose some risk that's worth worrying over either.
So I looked at the Osmocoat Pro pdf and it states 0.11% water soluble copper. Is this enough to affect inverts (mainly shrimp for me) or will the release rate be slow enough that coupled with water changes, it would be negligible and not affect shrimps at all?
So I looked at the Osmocoat Pro pdf and it states 0.11% water soluble copper. Is this enough to affect inverts (mainly shrimp for me) or will the release rate be slow enough that coupled with water changes, it would be negligible and not affect shrimps at all?
As I mentioned in the prior post, it's an issue of rate of release, osmocoat does not give off all it's N or Copper or anything all at once, rather, over about 6-8 months time.
VERY slowly.
And that's the point.
Want or need more? Best to simple add KNO3 or use traces etc to the water column. A good method : lite water column dosing(fish waste and/or dry ferts etc in min amounts) with a rich sediment and low light.
Actually last time I did DIY tabs, I did combine both method. :hitting: I made Riiz tabs then sprinkled in about 1 table spoon of osmocote and mix them up.
I estimate that in each tab would have 1 or 2 osmocote pellet.
