Seachem Flourish or root tabs for pool filter sand substrate?

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lake_tuna

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Dec 14, 2009
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I bought a 20g long fish tank today, and I have a Coralife Aqualight 18wx2 (I think) on the way. I want to use pool filter sand this time because it's cheap, and I'm moving all of my plants in my 2 10g tanks over to the 20g. I was wondering what I should do to make my plants grow better this time. I have Seachem Flourish (liquid). I have java fern, moss, anubias, rotala something, anachris, a few other stem plants (don't know names), etc..

Questions;
1. Is using Flourish in the water beneficial to dwarf sags and corkscrew vals (these seem to be root plants). These do not grow well in my regular gravel substrate. I have 2WPG in the 10g tanks.

2. how does a root tab work exactly? I'm reading that you insert it in your substrate.. does it disperse by itself or something?

Thanks!
 
for question 1 it helps but not as much as root tabs.

for question 2 basicly you have the right idea its asentially dry firtz that that breaks up over time and disperses into you substrate there good to use with intert substrates like ppol filter sand and root feeding plants.
 
You dont say where you are located or what kind of water you have. I've done great with a wide variety of plants but none of the vals. I also have very soft water.

That said, Flourish added to the water column works well...however it is also available to algae.

The root tabs are much less so. I (usually, but not always) break up the tabs and put small chunks between plants, they break down a bit, and the roots nearest are able to take up the nutrients.

So Flourish is easier and works...but if you end up with more algae, you might want to consider the root tabs.
 
Both are good, but root tabs would be great for your sag & vals. Just push them deep so you don't accidently unearth one if you stir the sand. I have Tahitian moon sand, and use flourish. My crypts are growing, but I'm probably going to get tabs as they're showing some leaf holes and have slowed down lately. My dwarf sag got transplanted to a tank with Aquasoil substrate, and has really taken off and is bright green. I'm sure using root tabs will help yours grow.
 
ive used both Flourish and root tabs, i can say now that i dont use root tabs and probably never will again, flourish is one of the best water column ferts i have used
 
get dry ferts, epsom salts and indian/mexican red clay and make your own root tabs. riiz's recipe in the sticky in the planted section works wonders. use it and your plants will be happier. while you're at it and have extra dry ferts left over, use them too. a happy tank is a happy aquarist...
 
I like to use root tabs in new set ups with pool sand. There is nothing in clean new sand to help the plants, especially root feeders, get established.
 
So it sounds like with PFS, root tabs will help the dwarf sags and possibly the vals grow, and Flourish would be good for everything else I have, including algae? Hm.. I should give root tabs perhaps, but DIY sounds more expensive than just buying them. Any affordable brand recommendation for root tabs?

I was thinking about Flourite (red and black) alternatively.. One 15-lb bag of it and another to mix it with to make it enough for a 30x12 footprint.
 
Flourite is good but it doesnt have nutrients in it, just iron, which helps plants take up nutrients. It's great tho, I've used in many plant tanks in the past. If you are using pool sand tho, it will quickly come up thru it. It is a bit sharp for cories and loaches to root about in, IMO.

I used to use a screen mesh, with a black/green coarse sand on top and flourite below. Worked well, the roots can get thru the mesh.
 
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