Fertilizer question

**mrramsey** · 03-17-2013, 01:42 PM

I am going to be finalizing my aquarium this week when my plants arrive. I just had a thought... Is there a fertilizer I can put down before I add the rest of the substrate? Just trying to come up with a good initial dosing with out the expense of root tabs. My sts substrate is clay based and should absorb the nutrients. Can anyone recommend a safe fert to use?

**Cliff** · 03-17-2013, 02:26 PM

If you are planting some root feeding plants and you already have some plant substrate, then I think root tabs might be your best bet. I've always put mine in when I put the plants in. That way you are not wasting fetrs in areas there won't be any plants.

**talldutchie** · 03-17-2013, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by mrramsey

I am going to be finalizing my aquarium this week when my plants arrive. I just had a thought... Is there a fertilizer I can put down before I add the rest of the substrate? Just trying to come up with a good initial dosing with out the expense of root tabs. My sts substrate is clay based and should absorb the nutrients. Can anyone recommend a safe fert to use?

I've worked with dennerle and tetra plant substrate. thin layer capped by whatever you want to look at.

**Hardy85** · 03-18-2013, 12:02 PM

I just use the flourish root tabs, like $12 and they say they should last 3-6 months

**mrramsey** · 03-18-2013, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Hardy85

I just use the flourish root tabs, like $12 and they say they should last 3-6 months

Root tabs seem to be the consensus. I will run out and pick up a couple packs today. Expect plants to arrive Wednesday!

**fishmommie** · 03-18-2013, 02:51 PM

make sure you sent photos! a journal would be great. I'm going to be redoing a tank this summer and switching from artificial to real plants. Would be fun to see how you do this from the bottom up!

**Hardy85** · 03-18-2013, 02:53 PM

Already way ahead of you fishmommie, mrramsey's 72 gallon bowfront in the aquarium journals

**funkman262** · 03-18-2013, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Hardy85

Already way ahead of you fishmommie, mrramsey's 72 gallon bowfront in the aquarium journals

Put the link in your signature so people don't have to search for it

EDIT: Just noticed this wasn't the OP lol. Didn't even check the name. Sorry Hardy

But then again, I double checked the OP's sig and still don't see the link for the journal in this forum (the link is for an out-of-forum blog). So, once again mrramsey, it would be nice if you linked your journal. And boy should I wait for the coffee kicks in before I start posting here

**Hardy85** · 03-18-2013, 03:19 PM

Don't yell at me

LOL, I've been following the journal, but couldn't provide the link right now. But yes I second the link into the sig... I can't have my journal in my sig for a few reasons, maybe next week I can make a few changes in my sig