I am cheap about some things and substrate ferts are one. I did a trade about 12+ years ago with a gent in Florida. I sent him a bag of long fin bn and he sent back several packets of Jobes Fern and Palm spikes. The use of these in the sub was my first disagreement with Tom Barr over a decade ago on another site. His main dislike, and a shortcoming I acknowledged, was the fact that disturbing them was a recipe for disaster. But since I am not and avid rescaper and also used them veer selectively in terms of where I put them, they have worked well for me.
At that time I think a pack of the spikes cost several dollars and considering shipping costs, he got the better deal $ wise. I am still using that original supply today. You can snip the spikes to varying lengths depending on need.
Introduction to Fertilizers for a Planted Tank by Chuck Gadd
The last common substrate fertilizer is a "plant spike". These are actually sold for normal household plants, but certain varieties of them are especially useful for aquatic plants. These are sold in the gardening section of many stores. The most commonly used ones are "Jobe's Plant Food Spikes for Lush Ferns and Palms". This variety has a very low phosphate level, which is important, since an excess of phosphate will quickly lead to algae problems. The Fern and Palm sticks also contain very little urea, a toxic form of nitrogen. Other varieties of the plant spikes contain much more urea, to the point where enough might enter the water and could harm fish. These are solid "spikes" that get pushed into the substrate where their nutrients are available to plant roots, but not to algae in the water. These plant spikes provide macro-nutrients only. When using these, they should be used sparingly, only at the base of heavy root feeding plants. Do not insert these over the entire substrate.
from
http
/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/fertilizers_intro.php
Today the internet has come a long way. I can now get these spike online. Because they are for plants more typically found in warmer climates, they were/are not common up north where I live. They were readily available in Florida back then.
One nice thing about these spikes and the ability to cut them into any size piece is that you can fertilize larger plants from different places by using several small pieces rather than a single large one. You can easily put smaller amounts of fetrtilizer in several different places for one plant with a large root mass like a big sword.
SeaChems root tabs do have a great rep. I just think they are overpriced is all. My 12 years of gravel ferts in multiple tanks has cost me a few dollars a year and I think i will have some left after I no longer have tanks.
In case you are curious about what happens if you disturb your substrate and get the Jobe's spikes into the water column, you have likely not even come close to knowing the meaning of a "
bad algae outbreak" no matter what you may have have experienced so far.
