DIY root capsules

Anyone doing their own root capsules? I've heard a lot about this fert called Osmocote Plus. If anybody has used it, can I get some feedback please.
Seachem Flourish root tabs are burning a whole in my wallet.

 

I started out using Easy root tabs. I guess they were okay but not really impressed with the results. I recently went to Osmocote capsules to try them out. Not sure yet if they are any better but they are time release so they wont have to be added as often as they release all the ferts at once.

 

I started out using Easy root tabs. I guess they were okay but not really impressed with the results. I recently went to Osmocote capsules to try them out. Not sure yet if they are any better but they are time release so they wont have to be added as often as they that release all the ferts at once.

Yes I've heard about those. Some people swear by them.
I was watching a YouTube video about these DIY Osmocote tabs, some dude from Australia and he said that while safe for fish, Osmocote is poisonous to shrimp and snail.

 

Yes I've heard about those. Some people swear by them.
I was watching a YouTube video about these DIY Osmocote tabs, some dude from Australia and he said that while safe for fish, Osmocote is poisonous to shrimp and snail.

He is wrong. His rational for that is that they contain very small amounts of copper which in large amounts are fatal for inverts. Small amounts are actually necessary for their health.

 

I've tried them, they do dump nutrients into the water but come with their own set of problems. They can cause an ammonia spike, and the little yellow balls stay in the substrate and come up sometimes if you have sand.

They're a massive pain to get out of the tank because you'll have to pick out each one with tweezers since they're too heavy to gravel vac.

They're "slow release" in soil according to the package but the nutrient release is activated by water, so I'm suspecting they dump nutrients quickly in a tank.

They definitely contain a LOT more nutrients than seachem tabs, so they should be better as long as you're careful.