making frozen dirt cubes

[monty67]

THis might be odd but I'm going to be redoing the whole tank later next year. For now I'm trying to get a little better nutrients into the substrate without going crazy with fert tabs that I've had limited sucess with. I was wondering about making a thick mud out of a soil and then freezing it into cubs, then pressing some into the bottom of the gravel.

anyone see problems with that?

Also, do i just need an organic potting soil?

Thanks.

[fplata]

No problems at all, why not do it with osmocote?

[monty67]

not really familiar with it, but after looking it up, fplata, are you talking the soil or actually using the slow release granuels?

[roadmaster]

Osmocote "Pot shot's " work well for me,Replace them every four month's.
I have also used the granules as bottom sprinkling before placing soil,gravel on top.

[monty67]

Gonna head over to the hardware store and pick up some of the pot shots after lunch. Thanks folks.

[Mostlydave]

Do you use these just like root tabs?

How many would you use at once in a 38 Gallon?

I'm excited these look much more reasonably priced then root tabs!

[roadmaster]

Originally Posted by Mostlydave

Do you use these just like root tabs?

How many would you use at once in a 38 Gallon?

I'm excited these look much more reasonably priced then root tabs!

Would not use more than three. As they release fertz,some will find it's way into water column but this does no harm unless you use too many.
I normally place one at base of rooted plant's like sword,crypt's.

[monty67]

Good advise, I just put one at the base of my sad looking crypts and hopefully I will see a boost from them soon. My tank is only a 20 so I'm gonna stick with one for now and judge it over the next couple weeks.

[Mostlydave]

Thanks for the info! I'm currently using seachem liquid ferts, should I try both or are these enough?

[roadmaster]

Would maybe use Seachem's flourish comprehensive along with the Pot shot's for a while and see how plant's do over a few week's.
If more fertz are needed, such as with high energy tank's with CO2 being injected or supplemented, then I would look to dry fertilizer's rather than spend money on more expensive liquid fertz that are perhap's largely water.

[monty67]

Some might say I'm crazy but I've never had much luck with the Seachem products. I'm using up the last bottle of Flourish I've got just to get rid of it. The best luck I've had with fertilizers (and I haven't tried a lot or great substrates before) was the tetra Flora Pride they sell at petco. Always seemed to have really strong and colorful plants when i was consistently using that.

[psalm18.2]

I have made MGOS dirt cubes and used. I have made Oscomote cubes too.