Best additive for plain gravel?

kroner19 · 07-06-2012, 09:23 PM

I have just plain old black gravel. My plants seem to be doing fine. I currently add the saechem root tabs but I keep hearing about osmocote, or root medic, or gro-soil tabs. Anyone (WHO IS NOT THE SELLER OF THESE PRODUCTS) try any or all of these out? I AM a re-planter - never really happy with the tank - but I'm getting better at just letting things be. Are any of these potentially dangerous to my fish if disturbed? which ones last longer? which are best? any input/reviews would be cool.

Thanks.

Kroner.

Diana · 07-07-2012, 05:41 AM

Well, I would not want to disturb any of the root tablets. However, any of them will provide a more consistent supply of fertilizer.
Moving a single plant is not usually an issue (unless of course the roots are all over the place) and if you are redoing the whole tank you would remove the livestock to a temporary tank while you work, and end up doing a 100% water change before you put the fish or shrimp back into the tank. That would take care of any dug up fertilizer tablets. You could also time the major changes and skip adding fertilizer tablets for a month or so. Let the old ones get used up.

07-06-2012, 09:23 PM	#1
kroner19 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New York Posts: 134	Best additive for plain gravel? I have just plain old black gravel. My plants seem to be doing fine. I currently add the saechem root tabs but I keep hearing about osmocote, or root medic, or gro-soil tabs. Anyone (WHO IS NOT THE SELLER OF THESE PRODUCTS) try any or all of these out? I AM a re-planter - never really happy with the tank - but I'm getting better at just letting things be. Are any of these potentially dangerous to my fish if disturbed? which ones last longer? which are best? any input/reviews would be cool. Thanks. Kroner.

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07-07-2012, 05:41 AM	#2
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,013	Well, I would not want to disturb any of the root tablets. However, any of them will provide a more consistent supply of fertilizer. Moving a single plant is not usually an issue (unless of course the roots are all over the place) and if you are redoing the whole tank you would remove the livestock to a temporary tank while you work, and end up doing a 100% water change before you put the fish or shrimp back into the tank. That would take care of any dug up fertilizer tablets. You could also time the major changes and skip adding fertilizer tablets for a month or so. Let the old ones get used up.