Hi, I have a 5.5g planted tank with anubias nana, hygro stricta and wisteria. I'm thinking of adding a crypt wendtii and something tall and grassy for the back (suggestions for a 10" high tank?). I've heard of Fluorish which I just pour in and the tabs which I burrow in the gravel. Should I get one or the other or both for the type of plants i have and are planning to get?
Fluorish and tabs
- Thread starter Bender81
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Most of the plant guys say stay away fromt eh tabs. If you use them make sure to remeber exactly where they are for if you uncover them later they will spread in the water column and create a huge algae issue. Also they will probably want to see your tank and water specs before suggesting which ferts to use. And try reading the stickies in this forum about growing plants. Great info.
That would really depend on the type and brand of tab. wouldn't it? Flourish tabs are micronutrients only, no macros at all, so unlikely to cause issues. As Flourish itself was named, I assumed that Flourish Tabs were being asked about. Some housplant tabs do contain nitrogen in forms which will hydrolyse to ammonia (specifically urea), so that when exposed within some poorly defined time frame they can cause problems. Some of us do use them routinely under gross feeders such as long-established swordplants or under old stands of crypts without problems however. Folks who move their plants around regularly and routinely should stay away from such formulations - such as in pruning and replanting of lots of stem plants.
Thanks, that sticky on fertalizers was useful. Don't know how I missed it. 
Well I was at my local Big Al's and they didn't have normal Fluorish so I bought Kent freshwater micronutrient plant supplement. More or less the same thing? They did have Fluorish Excel and Fluorish Tabs, so I'll probably look into that in the near future. I want my tank to go from a light-medium planted tank to a heavy one eventually. 
Well I was at my local Big Al's and they didn't have normal Fluorish so I bought Kent freshwater micronutrient plant supplement. More or less the same thing? They did have Fluorish Excel and Fluorish Tabs, so I'll probably look into that in the near future. I want my tank to go from a light-medium planted tank to a heavy one eventually. Thanks RTR, I was unaware that the flourish tabs were that different.
Bender81, Flourish Excel is a liquid carbon suppliment used in place of CO2 additon. It is really most useful in smaller tanks and when you do not have a high kH in your water supply. It is also supposed to be useful in ridding new tanks of hair algae, which is a good thing to know. I use it in my 1 10 gallon heavily planted tank and it seems to work very well, but would probably get too expensive to use in a large tank.
Bender81, Flourish Excel is a liquid carbon suppliment used in place of CO2 additon. It is really most useful in smaller tanks and when you do not have a high kH in your water supply. It is also supposed to be useful in ridding new tanks of hair algae, which is a good thing to know. I use it in my 1 10 gallon heavily planted tank and it seems to work very well, but would probably get too expensive to use in a large tank.