So Many Fertilizer To Choose

I'm planning to start a planted tank slowly I updated my lights and filter and probably going to get CO2 in near future
My biggest concern is my substrate it is small gravel and I don’t want to change it since my tank stable and I don’t want to ruin it so I'm going for root tabs there are only 2 brands of root fertilizer in my lfs ADA multI bottom and multI bottom long which has micros with extra iron and for “long” product it is for plant caring for a long period of time and they are expensive and have 30 sticks the cheaper option is is for ISTA company it has 20 cone shaped pills which contain micros and suitable for one year which of these fertilizer are better?? They are my only options
As for my liquid fertilizer I'm currently using ADA brighty steps 2 it is a good fertilizer but doesn’t contain macros for macros the only product that have all of them together is SEACHEM multI should I switch to seachem fertilizers or using seachem with ADA won’t cause any trouble??
Edit: also Microbe-lift all in one has both micros and macros too

 

Mixing seachem with ada isn't dangerous. Just watch your iron and copper levels if you have inverts in the tank. Roots tabs in general don't last as long as they claim but if the price difference is steep, go with the cheaper. There really won't be any noticeable difference in growth. The only plants that really rely on substrate nutrients are going to be crypts. When getting optimal plant growth your 3 major factors are lighting, water parameters, and water column nutrients. In that order from most important to least. A lot of root tabs claim 3-5 months and most heavy planted tanks need a change in about a month to 2 max which is why a lot of people who have HEAVILY planted tanks or multiple tanks make their own.

 

Mixing seachem with ada isn't dangerous. Just watch your iron and copper levels if you have inverts in the tank. Roots tabs in general don't last as long as they claim but if the price difference is steep, go with the cheaper. There really won't be any noticeable difference in growth. The only plants that really rely on substrate nutrients are going to be crypts. When getting optimal plant growth your 3 major factors are lighting, water parameters, and water column nutrients. In that order from most important to least. A lot of root tabs claim 3-5 months and most heavy planted tanks need a change in about a month to 2 max which is why a lot of people who have HEAVILY planted tanks or multiple tanks make their own.

Will mixing these two cause copper levels to go high?? I have RCS,Amanos and assassin snails in my tank
The plants that I'm considering to buy are mostly from Echinodorus family,hygrophila and ludwigia I know Echinodorus are root feeders and I have a crockscrew val in my tank which isn’t doing great since lights was good I guessed that it must be my substrate so now my question is I'm needing root tabs or not??

 

Let me change my question about root tabs:
I want Hygrophila difformis aka water wisteria, Hygrophila polysperma, Hygrophila Rosanerving,ludwigia species and red cabomba can I do it with normal gravel and liquid ferts or I should get root tabs??

 

So I don’t think I would trust a root tab that says it lasts for a year. I have to replace my root tabs about once every 3-4 weeks. They get used up very quickly. Why can’t you just order some ferts online?

I use Seachem Flourish root tabs with Ultum all in one liquid ferts. No issues mixing them.

I’ve not heard of the Brighty Steps fertilizers, but if they don’t contain macros, then you need to add some for sure.

Maybe Jocelyn Adelman can wade through the different fertilizers better than I can. I am pretty new to using them myself.

 

So I don’t think I would trust a root tab that says it lasts for a year. I have to replace my root tabs about once every 3-4 weeks. They get used up very quickly. Why can’t you just order some ferts online?

I use Seachem Flourish root tabs with Ultum all in one liquid ferts. No issues mixing them.

I’ve not heard of the Brighty Steps fertilizers, but if they don’t contain macros, then you need to add some for sure.

Maybe Jocelyn Adelman can wade through the different fertilizers better than I can. I am pretty new to using them myself.

Thanks for reply
I never used root tabs before good to know people experience about them
Brighty steps is from ADA company and I think it’s from japan great company in my opinion but expensive
Do you know about my second question I narrowed my plants list. All the plants that I mentioned labeled stem plants in tropica site(easy section) should I use root tabs with them or liquid fertilizer will be enough??

 

Thanks for reply
I never used root tabs before good to know people experience about them
Brighty steps is from ADA company and I think it’s from japan great company in my opinion but expensive
Do you know about my second question I narrowed my plants list. All the plants that I mentioned labeled stem plants in tropica site(easy section) should I use root tabs with them or liquid fertilizer will be enough??

You definitely need root tabs for stem plants. Without a doubt. There are lots of brands out there. Most of them work about the same. Just get the smallest package, and if they don’t work well for you, then switch brands.

 

You definitely need root tabs for stem plants. Without a doubt. There are lots of brands out there. Most of them work about the same. Just get the smallest package, and if they don’t work well for you, then switch brands.

That all that I need to know thanks

 

Just an addition... Ada bottom is an iron tab, not a general tab.... also the “long” refers to the length, not the time...
Would be unlikely the ista tabs would last a year... but overall you mentioned it is for micros...
You want a root tab that has macros as well....
In the us seachem is good, I also use nilocg tabs....apI makes a mess. Maybe try looking on Amazon????