too many root tabs?

[LiveMermaid07]

Hi, I recently planted a bunch of new plants and I added both seachem and api root tabs (they have different stuff and amounts in them, seem to work well together). I also just received some root capsuls from Bob's tropicals - I don't know the nutrition or amounts of nutrients in these ones, and I'm wondering if I should wait to add these later? Or can I go ahead and add them? I am trying to get a jump start on the root systems of the amazon swords (and I know the crypt would like more food than I seem to have in the tank) so I'm just wondering if this would be ok? Or is that too much at once? Thanks.

 

[tanker]

I would not over do the root-food. How much light do you have??

Lights, food (root or liquid), and CO2 go togther. Adding one or two without the other being balanced is causes for problems.

 

[LiveMermaid07]

in January I updated from 1 T-8 to two T-12 bulbs, and I started diy co2, and dose once a week - usually with excel. For the moment i've stopped dosing flourish.

 

[Crispino Ramos]

Give it a couple of months before you add more root tabs. Root tabs when overdone can burn the plant's roots and burnt roots could lead to dead plants. Too much root tabs may cause too much nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) leaching into the water column and may cause algae bloom.

 

[jetajockey]

The root tabs at bobs are a very slow release capsule so you don't really run into the issues of overdoing it like you would with a regular clay tab. However I'd hold off for a while if you already put tabs down. In the future just get tabs that cover everything. Pretty sure that bob's tabs are just basic NPK btw.

 

[LiveMermaid07]

Thanks. (I haven't found tabs that cover everything yet. The 2 I listed are the only ones sold here-abouts. That's why I thought I'd try Bob's since I was ordering anyway.)

 

[jetajockey]

im actually in the process of making some clay root tabs that have a mix of macros and micros. Hopefully it works out.

 

[LiveMermaid07]

sounds interesting, keep us posted on those!

 

[LiveMermaid07]

I probably should've have included this, the plants are showing several signs of at least a few or more nutrient deficiencies, that's why I was wanting to know about adding more tabs (and I don't add as many as they say on the box, I try to concentrate them near the plants. I can't always afford my fishy-diction lol.)