Do you need root tabs for these plants?

HI there I have a few plants that are planted into seachem flourite without any root tabs at the moment. If root tabs are needed, would Osmocote plus root tabs be good? Also I have Red Cherry Shrimps in my tank and was wondering if the Osmocote plus would affect the shrimps in anyway since osmocote contains little copper? Thank you.

Current plants: Cryptocoryne Spiralis, Cryptocoryne WendtiI Red, and Pigmy Chain Sword

 

HI there I have a few plants that are planted into seachem flourite without any root tabs at the moment. If root tabs are needed, would Osmocote plus root tabs be good? Also I have Red Cherry Shrimps in my tank and was wondering if the Osmocote plus would affect the shrimps in anyway since osmocote contains little copper? Thank you.

Current plants: Cryptocoryne Spiralis, Cryptocoryne WendtiI Red, and Pigmy Chain Sword

Crypts are heavy root feeders. My crypts have survived for weeks without root tabs in regular gravel, but I only saw abundant growth after I stuck a flourish tab underneath it. I would say osmocote would be fine. I personally would go with tabs specifically designed for aquariums, but from what I’ve heard, osmocote does well.

If they’re planted in Flourite though, they might not need root tabs.

 

My crypts are planted in fluorite and they are propagating heavily. They've been planted for a month and a half. I thought that by putting fluorite down you wouldn't need root tabs. Am I correct in that thinking??

 

My crypts are planted in fluorite and they are propagating heavily. They've been planted for a month and a half. I thought that by putting fluorite down you wouldn't need root tabs. Am I correct in that thinking??

Yes, you don’t need them.

 

I have Seachem flourite, and I still use flourish tabs only twice a year though.

 

Flourite is completely inert, offers 0 nutrients, and has a very low CEC meaning it can't exchange and store nutrients from the water column.

In this case you have to supply some sort of fertilizer for optimal growth, either O+ root tabs or a properly fertilized water column.

Heavy root feeders is a myth that has been debunked by the planted tank community. Swords / crypts / any other common "heavy root feeder" will grow just as well taking all nutrients from the water column.

Certain plants do prefer nutrients in the substrate, but its fairly specific, only at certain hardness levels, growth speeds etc. and certainly do not include crypts or swords.

 

Flourite is completely inert, offers 0 nutrients, and has a very low CEC meaning it can't exchange and store nutrients from the water column.

Ok...

Mineral Composition

Aluminum	10,210
Barium	124
Calcium	195
Cobalt	6
Chromium	13
Copper	17
Iron	18,500
Potassium	2,195
Magnesium	2,281
Manganese	64
Sodium	223
Nickel	12
Vanadium	15
Zinc	29

 

I do not use root tabs with my flourite, my vals are sending runners out daily but the crypts don't do well in it IME. Thinking of adding root tabs.

 

How long have you had your crypts

 

1-2 months since planting only propagated twice and the little crypts are small and flimsy.

 

This is my experience only with all the plants you mentioned, and for the most part of very roots feeding plant. When I first planted them I used root tabs. I probably used root tabs twice in the year. The I just stopped using root tabs and only feed the water column. I have had zero issues. My tank is almost completed carpeted with micro swords, and I am constantly giving away off shoots and splitting plants.

My tank is a 120 gallon over stocked tank with fish that dwell at all levels of the water. Not sure if the fish are providing a natural fertilizer to the substrate, but whatever is going on it works.

 

Ok...

Mineral Composition

Aluminum	10,210
Barium	124
Calcium	195
Cobalt	6
Chromium	13
Copper	17
Iron	18,500
Potassium	2,195
Magnesium	2,281
Manganese	64
Sodium	223
Nickel	12
Vanadium	15
Zinc	29

Ok....
This chart tells me nothing:

Are these in plant available forms? (they aren't )
What values are these numbers expressed in? (can't find it advertised on their website)
Are these ingredients of the substrate or actual nutrient values meant to be released to the plants? (can't find it advertised on their website)

Last I checked, aluminium, barium, sodium and vanadium are not required plant nutrients, and what can find on their website is no claims that it is nutrient rich to feed the plants.

 

Flourite is more or less inert. You'll need to add root tabs and dose ferts in the water column

 

Ok....
This chart tells me nothing:

Are these in plant available forms? (they aren't )
What values are these numbers expressed in? (can't find it advertised on their website)
Are these ingredients of the substrate or actual nutrient values meant to be released to the plants? (can't find it advertised on their website)

Last I checked, aluminium, barium, sodium and vanadium are not required plant nutrients, and what can find on their website is no claims that it is nutrient rich to feed the plants.

Seachem - Flourite Dark

It's the mineral composition. You said it doesn't have anything.

 

Seachem - Flourite Dark

It's the mineral composition. You said it doesn't have anything.

No, I said it offers nothing for the plants in terms of nutrients. Its composition is made up of those minerals yes, just like many other gravels and rocks, but it's completely inert meaning it can't give up those minerals for the plants to uptake.

 

1-2 months since planting only propagated twice and the little crypts are small and flimsy.

Root tabs will not hurt, they do work. I've used them on my Crypts and they started acting nice.

No, I said it offers nothing for the plants in terms of nutrients. Its composition is made up of those minerals yes, just like many other gravels and rocks, but it's completely inert meaning it can't give up those minerals for the plants to uptake.

After a few hundred years maybe, if you can wait that long.