lazy... or is there really a need, to do it weekly... water change schedule...

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Root tabs are a great way to feed the plants without feeding algae And roots also clean the substrate and keep it healthy.

Even this opens up a can of worms for debate. Some say root tabs are useless and all plants will utilize nutrients in the water column. Or that root tabs aren't the answer because the root tabs end up in the water column anyway and you have zero control of how many nutrients you're adding.
Some say root tabs are necessary for heavy root feeders like swords, crypts, and vals.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Even this opens up a can of worms for debate. Some say root tabs are useless and all plants will utilize nutrients in the water column. Or that root tabs aren't the answer because the root tabs end up in the water column anyway and you have zero control of how many nutrients you're adding.
Some say root tabs are necessary for heavy root feeders like swords, crypts, and vals.

I say do the best you can, and if it isn't working, try something else. Water chemistry is complicated and there are probably many, many unknown factors. I suspect that's why there are so many different ways to do this hobby, and why some people get so attached to one method or another.

Some "advanced" plants grow like weeds with no help from me, and there are some "beginner" plants that I can't grow to save my life. I blame the water

 

[anewbie]

Even this opens up a can of worms for debate. Some say root tabs are useless and all plants will utilize nutrients in the water column. Or that root tabs aren't the answer because the root tabs end up in the water column anyway and you have zero control of how many nutrients you're adding.
Some say root tabs are necessary for heavy root feeders like swords, crypts, and vals.

When you have an ec 20; while there is some nutrients in the water column it isn't much. However when you have a ph of 5.6 softwater plants are much more efficient at using what nutrients they happen to find. So it is a trade off - in any event it is what it is - i ran a few co2 aquariums in the past and while there is some pluses there is some negatives it will never imitate real life.... nor will (imho) improve life for the fishes.

 

[f_luxus]

all plants will utilize nutrients in the water column.

Oh yes they do. There is like always more then one way, but Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus, Red Lotus are just 3 Plants, that benefit a lot from root tabs.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Oh yes they do. There is like always more then one way, but Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus, Red Lotus are just 3 Plants, that benefit a lot from root tabs.

That's your opinion.
Just an hour ago I was viewing a thread on PlantedTank. One person said crypts need an enriched substrate because they don't uptake water column nutrients. The very next poster said no, they grow fine in pool filter sand with water column dosing. I realize different things work for different people. Maybe for me I just have to pee in my tank. It's hard to find any absolute truths other than water is wet.

 

[f_luxus]

water is wet.

Except it's frozen...

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Except it's frozen...

Time to make a cocktail

 

[anewbie]

Except it's frozen...

Or vapor.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Or vapor.

OK, we've covered the three states of water
Only one makes my drink cold.

 

[Zer0Fame]

Hey,

Some say root tabs are necessary for heavy root feeders like swords, crypts, and vals.

Necessary? No. Helpful? Guaranteed! In most cases.
I like to use the scientific approach to such myths. If I can disprove it only once, the statement is wrong.

All plants, including Echinodorus, Cryptocoryne, Nymphaea, have the ability to consume nutrients from the water column.
Just some of them, for example the mentioned, are much(!) better in nutrient uptake through their roots.

No plant substrate, no root tabs, no nothing. Finest sand I could find. Nutrients exclusively through the water column:



Diffusion into the water column can be a huge problem, depending on the substrate. The finer the substrate, the less likely the nutrients are to diffuse.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Diffusion into the water column can be a huge problem, depending on the substrate. The finer the substrate, the less likely the nutrients are to diffuse.

This is exactly why I'm probably going to change my substrate. From gravel to Black Diamond Blasting Sand.

 

[anewbie]

This is exactly why I'm probably going to change my substrate. From gravel to Black Diamond Blasting Sand.

The only problem with bdbs is that it is sometime contaminated; after all it is meant for construction not aquariums.

 

[Zer0Fame]

From gravel to Black Diamond Blasting Sand.

I'm a sucker for fine sand anyway ... Most tanks are either 0.1 - 0.3mm sand, or 0.4-0.7.

The only exception are the aquasoil tanks.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

The only problem with bdbs is that it is sometime contaminated; after all it is meant for construction not aquariums.

True it's not it's original purpose. I like it better than pool filter sand, and I plan on a thorough rinse.

 

[Magnum Man]

I have 2 tanks with this in... seems pretty good

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1PDH9D6?ref_=icdp_ba_mweb_title_pd_bap_m_grid_rp_fod_0_211_gf&clientRefMarker=pd_bap_m_grid_rp_fod_0_211_gf&heartsTeamIdentifier=buyagain&psc=1&heartDisabled=false