Root tabs and liquid fert or just liquid?

[Bolsen27]

Setup:

55gal
T5HO 2x54w
Substrate designed for a planted tank, the one they sell on aquariumplants.com

I know my lighting is fine and that I don't need to dose CO2 thanks to 850R, she has an almost identical setup only difference is she has a different substrate and her tank looks awesome!

The question I have is will we need to use root tabs with our substrate, the substrate says it has nutrients built in. The website lists a whole bunch that is in the soil. I want to do the tank right but I don't want to over complicate it either.

[Goes to 11!]

IMO - I would still use root tabs. They advertise that the soil with root tabs would be a 'complete system' which would imply to me that additional substrate ferts are [At least usually] required although this naturally depends on the plants you get also.

[MandyK]

I have plant substrate myself, and I use root tabs. I also use Excel, but that's mainly because it keeps the bg algae away.

[Bolsen27]

Ok so root tabs it is!

I have been dosing excel so far, but I am hesitant to continue it because we added corkscrew Val's and I read that Val's don't do well with excel.

[Tobinkinz]

Not to mention our poor vals are melting horribly - just from being newly planted in a cycling tank?

Or from the excel?

Any hope for them?

I wonder if I planted them a little deep also, but otherwise the little buggers wouldn't stay in the substrate - tried to get them just deep enough to stay.

Sabra

[dmagerl]

If I'm not mistaken, the aquariumplants.com substrate is an inert substrate. The minerals listed are the minerals comprising the substrate but are not really biologically available to plants, except in a minor way. The same goes for Flourite and Eco Complete. It's all just advertising.

Root tabs or water dosing is a necessity.

[Goes to 11!]

Just like sand, Do you know by any chance if it is simply turface? Or similar?

[Bolsen27]

It is not the same as turface it is very close from what i just read.