Questions About New Plants

[AquaticQueen]

Hello, fellow fish lovers. I got some new plants this afternoon and would like to ask a couple of questions regarding them.
1: How do I and for how long should I quarantine them, if at all?
2: Any recommendations on a fertilizer that I can get in Canada? I have hornwort, moneywort, Amazon sword, anubias, and water wisteria. Thanks in advance!

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

For root tabs, my suggestion are Jobe's houseplant spikes, they have been tested by many in aquariums, including myself, I have even had them exposed to the surface accidentally and eaten by my fish, and they were fine. They are super cheap, if you have lowe's in Canada, you can get them there.

 

[Mapleleaf]

I never quarantined any of my plants. I have 22 in my 45gal tank.
For fertilizer, the anubias feeds from the the leaves and will need a liquid fertilizer. The others feed from their roots. I would use root tabs for those. I have been using Flourish Comprehensive and Flourish root tabs.

 

[AquaticQueen]

For root tabs, my suggestion are Jobe's houseplant spikes, they have been tested by many in aquariums, including myself, I have even had them exposed to the surface accidentally and eaten by my fish, and they were fine. They are super cheap, if you have lowe's in Canada, you can get them there.

Just got them today. Do I just break them up and bury them throughout the substrate? Sorry, never done this kind of thing before.

 

[Sokamix]

Hello, fellow fish lovers. I got some new plants this afternoon and would like to ask a couple of questions regarding them.
1: How do I and for how long should I quarantine them, if at all?
2: Any recommendations on a fertilizer that I can get in Canada? I have hornwort, moneywort, Amazon sword, anubias, and water wisteria. Thanks in advance!

No need to quarantine them. I just buy API leaf zone on Amazon, works really well for Amazon swords and other plants. Or a fertilized substrate or root tabs would be even better!

 

[georgelee1000]

You should always quarantine your plant. Or you can soak it in hydrogen peroxide or meds to get rid of potential disaster.

Regarding fertilizer, most of your plants are pretty hardy. I would not bother if they are fine. If you really want them to grow a little better, invest in a liquid macro fert. I won’t do API leafzone tbh. It’s just potassium. It’s far from complete. Seachem flourish is fine for your need.

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

Just got them today. Do I just break them up and bury them throughout the substrate? Sorry, never done this kind of thing before.

That's what I did, just put a stick every 4-5 inches.

 

[AquaticQueen]

That's what I did, just put a stick every 4-5 inches.

I just realized that I accidentally bought the wrong kind. I bought Jobe's Trees and Shrubs fertilizer. Will they still be safe for the fish? I haven't added them yet.

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

I just realized that I accidentally bought the wrong kind. I bought Jobe's Trees and Shrubs fertilizer. Will they still be safe for the fish? I haven't added them yet.

I don't know, I've never used them. Maybe look at the ingredients to see if there is anything toxic.

 

[AquaticQueen]

I don't know, I've never used them. Maybe look at the ingredients to see if there is anything toxic.

The ingredients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. I just looked up the ingredients to Jobe's Houseplant Fertilizer and the ingredients are the same as the ones I have. Do I just try them and see what happens?

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

The ingredients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. I just looked up the ingredients to Jobe's Houseplant Fertilizer and the ingredients are the same as the ones I have. Do I just try them and see what happens?

If they are the same, they should probably be fine, but if they are bigger than the regular ones, maybe put less, could take a pic of them next to like a ruler?

 

[ruud]

Do you have fish? Do you have inert substrate or active soil?

If the answers are yes and /or active soil, perhaps you only need to dose a bit of micronutrients.

 

[StarGirl]

I have found the Thrive root tabs work better for me than the Flourish ever did. I actually have stem plants growing right now. I have really hard water though. Im not sure if that is even a factor?

 

[AquaticQueen]

If they are the same, they should probably be fine, but if they are bigger than the regular ones, maybe put less, could take a pic of them next to like a ruler?

Will do. I'll upload the pic the next chance I get.

Do you have fish? Do you have inert substrate or active soil?

If the answers are yes and /or active soil, perhaps you only need to dose a bit of micronutrients.

1 betta is in the tank currently. I have play sand as substrate.

 

[ruud]

I don't fancy play sand myself. Apart from the fact you tend to see every piece of decomposing plant matter or fish poo, the grain size is really small, hindering water movement (and nutrients) in the substrate. I would take some out, and purchase a bag of quality sand (such as a 2kg bag of ADA La Plata) that has tiny variation in grain size, which enhances water movement.

Your beta provides a good amount of macro nutrients for your plants. If you don't use CO2 injection and dim your lights a bit, if that would be possible, Im not sure your need more macronutrients, given the plant species you mentioned.

If you do frequent water changes with tap water, Im not even sure you need fertilizers at all, given the plant species you mentioned. Even root feeders consume some nutrients through their leaves, and besides, nutrients in the water column reach your substrate as well.

If your plants are currently doing fine, I would leave it as it is. Some root tabs won't hurt either of course.

 

[AquaticQueen]

If they are the same, they should probably be fine, but if they are bigger than the regular ones, maybe put less, could take a pic of them next to like a ruler?

Here's the pic.

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

Ok, they seem to be 4 times as thick, I'd split them vertically and then vertically again (Forming 4 pieces), and place them every 4-5 inches. So you don't get super concentrated spots with lots of nutrients, and then areas with almost none.