Ruadh Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 What type of tabs do you use? What is the breakdown? N.P.K.? Where do you buy them? Thankx all Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I had been using Fluorish tabs, but I just made my own batch of DIY tabs using pottery clay. Haven't popped them in the tank yet. They're kind of a combination of these two: DIY clay balls DIY root tabs recipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oneiroid Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 werner: Do let us know how these work out for you! I was thinking about making my own as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruadh Posted April 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I had been using Fluorish tabs, but I just made my own batch of DIY tabs using pottery clay. Haven't popped them in the tank yet. They're kind of a combination of these two:DIY clay balls DIY root tabs recipe Thank you Werner Is the clay absorbed by the subsrate over time or does it build up? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byte Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I have used the seachem flourish and tropica capsules and I prefer the seachem ones as the little tropica balls seem to surface a long time after they were put in. Ask Dry Dock, they even look like eggs when they do... http://albertaaquatica.com/index.php?showt...556&hl=eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Is the clay absorbed by the subsrate over time or does it build up? I used Plainsman's Terrastone clay. It's a mix of naturally occurring clay, so I wouldn't really worry about build up. It would be similar to using soil, peat or another organic materials under the gravel. The chemical analysis is listed as: BaO 0.0 CaO 0.4 K2O 3.1 MgO 1.1 Na2O 0.1 TiO2 0.6 Al2O3 14.7 P2O5 0.2 SiO2 69.7 Cr2O3 0.0 Fe2O3 5.0 MnO 0.0 The plants would take up some of the elements as trace nutrients, others would be left in the substrate (eg. SiO2- silica sand.) I also added all sorts of my dry ferts to the mix. I still have many kilos of clay left, so if you guys are interested I can make you some (tons cheaper than store tabs!) I'll give them a test run in my tank first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Okay, I'm now running a "tab test". I just planted 3 baby sword plants, all around the same size. One gets a Flourish tab, one gets nothing (control), and one gets my DIY tab. My scientific method leaves a lot to be desired, but we'll see how they grow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I've used Jobe's a lot in the past - the ones for Palms & Ferns. The thing w. them is that they are made w. ammonia, so if they surface, they usually cause an algae bloom. So, when using Jobe's don't plan on moving your plants around a bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruadh Posted April 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 (edited) I've used Jobe's a lot in the past - the ones for Palms & Ferns. The thing w. them is that they are made w. ammonia, so if they surface, they usually cause an algae bloom. So, when using Jobe's don't plan on moving your plants around a bunch. Thankx Jason That's something to consider. Would you mind looking to see what the NPK ratio is for me? Edited April 1, 2009 by Ruadh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geleen Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I've used Jobe's a lot in the past - the ones for Palms & Ferns. The thing w. them is that they are made w. ammonia, so if they surface, they usually cause an algae bloom. So, when using Jobe's don't plan on moving your plants around a bunch. Agreed! I have had no problems with them and they seem to help...certainly cheap.....I break them in smaller pieces and insert at least 1" deep. From observation only, there may be better choices and clay balls is my next adventure. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 I've used Jobe's a lot in the past - the ones for Palms & Ferns. The thing w. them is that they are made w. ammonia, so if they surface, they usually cause an algae bloom. So, when using Jobe's don't plan on moving your plants around a bunch. Thankx Jason That's something to consider. Would you mind looking to see what the NPK ratio is for me? I don't have any left, but I think it was something like 10-2-10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleshgear Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 how is your root tab test going werner? can we get another picture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkangel Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 I've used Jobe's a lot in the past - the ones for Palms & Ferns. The thing w. them is that they are made w. ammonia, so if they surface, they usually cause an algae bloom. So, when using Jobe's don't plan on moving your plants around a bunch. Thankx Jason That's something to consider. Would you mind looking to see what the NPK ratio is for me? I don't have any left, but I think it was something like 10-2-10. The jobe's for palms and ferns are 16-2-6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 how is your root tab test going werner? can we get another picture? I's proceeding well enough, but my other plants seem to be interfering. I thought I situated the swords in a good spot where they would receive equal amounts of light, but only one seems to be getting direct light on it (the Flourish plant). The other two are slightly shaded by some of the other plants in the tank, so I have to do some re-arranging. If I have to move them, I'll see if the tabs have been consumed. At this point, the Flourish plant is significantly bigger and has a couple more new leaves than the others. My DIY tab plant is the smallest, but it's also the one on the side receiving the least light. The control and the DIY plant have produced the same number of new leaves, however, the DIY plant has a more rounded leaf shape (interesting!) The other two are more oblong, with the control plant looking a bit spindly. I'll try to get more pics once the lights turn on today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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