Swords and root tabs

lovemybarbs

AC Members
Dec 23, 2006
1,249
0
0
55
Midwest
I have two sword plants that just won't take off and get tall. I do not have root tabs. I'm making a Big Al's order. Should I get some?
 
Yes indeedy. They'll do much better for you that way. You'll notice the difference real soon too.

Edit: Forgot to ask.. you do have a sand or gravel substrate, right? If you're already using a soil-type planted tank substrate, like eco-complete or some of the others... those have nutrients and you wouldn't need root tabs in addition to that. (Unless it's like 3+ years old and the nutrients have depleted.)
 
Will one tab per plant work a month? How long will they last? I only have two plants. A ten-pack would last five months?

I have gravel.
 
Last edited:
How much light do you have???

My swords get root fed once every month or two.
 
130 Watts on a 55

I guess the ten-pack will work then I guess.
 
130 Watts on a 55

I guess the ten-pack will work then I guess.

Should be OK, I get my root food from LFS. It comes with this stainless steel tube to put the food into the gravel--Real High-tech.
 
I don't use root tabs with my sand substrate and my Bar Sword is growing great.
 
I use the Flourish root tabs. They recommend replacing the tabs every two or three months and that has been working for me.
 
Okay, I have the root tabs.

This is what they look like today. We'll see if this works.

DSC02154.jpg
 
AquariaCentral.com