Best non-liquid, non-clay iron for DIY root tabs & Enriching inert substrate

[Firestorm_1976]

Hello plant experts! I would like to ask for your advice.

I am trying to re-vitalize my 40 gal breeder with inert gravel substrate that has been running since 7/2021, and the plants have been going downhill (attached photo of the tank was taken after I recently added sand and some new plants).

I want to revitalize this tank, but the obstacle to some major interventions is that my life is pretty stressful right now, so a mammoth project, like replacing the substrate is completely out of question. Instead, I am looking for small but meaningful, easy & doable interventions that hopefully end up making a difference.

Thus far, I implemented the following interventions. I topped MOST of the tank's gravel substrate with about 1" of fine sand. I made DIY root tabs about two weeks ago, and inserted about 15 of them (00 gelatin capsules) as deep into the substrate as I could. The root tabs contained Osmocote Plus, Calcium Phosphate dibasic, Muriate of potash, organic bone meal and crashed Indian almond leaf (I figured the decomposition will release some small amounts of CO2).

Additionally, four days ago, I got a paintball CO2 system going. I've been in the hobby (on and off) since 1992, always heavily planted tanks, and this is literally my very first CO2 system ever! So, that's exciting!

I realized that my root tabs are lacking iron. Which non-clay and non-liquid supplemental iron (powder or smaller granules) can I put in my root tabs? I ordered a larger gelatin capsules that should arrive today--size 000--and want to make a few more capsules with iron and insert them this week.

Finally, I had this idea that I'd like to run by plant experts. What if I also add some pre-mineralized finely sifted soil (that I pre-made for a dirtied filterless project that I never ended up doing) to my root tabs? Would it be a good way to enrich the substrate? Or is it a bad idea?

I do occasionally use all-in-one liquid fert (Thrive) and also add a small amounts of liquid potassium and iron. But whenever I use it consistently, even in 1/3 of the recommended amount, it does seem to cause diatom issues for me. So, not really a fan of ferts that go into water column.

If it makes any difference, I am in Arizona, and use tap water (treated with Hikari Ultimate and usually aged for a few days). I just recently added a heater, and the water is now 79-80 F. Until then, during winter months, the water was around 73-75 F (if that makes a difference).

Thank you so much in advance,

Yulia

 

[Crunchycrouton]

Hello plant experts! I would like to ask for your advice.

I am trying to re-vitalize my 40 gal breeder with inert gravel substrate that has been running since 7/2021, and the plants have been going downhill (attached photo of the tank was taken after I recently added sand and some new plants).

I want to revitalize this tank, but the obstacle to some major interventions is that my life is pretty stressful right now, so a mammoth project, like replacing the substrate is completely out of question. Instead, I am looking for small but meaningful, easy & doable interventions that hopefully end up making a difference.

Thus far, I implemented the following interventions. I topped MOST of the tank's gravel substrate with about 1" of fine sand. I made DIY root tabs about two weeks ago, and inserted about 15 of them (00 gelatin capsules) as deep into the substrate as I could. The root tabs contained Osmocote Plus, Calcium Phosphate dibasic, Muriate of potash, organic bone meal and crashed Indian almond leaf (I figured the decomposition will release some small amounts of CO2).

Additionally, four days ago, I got a paintball CO2 system going. I've been in the hobby (on and off) since 1992, always heavily planted tanks, and this is literally my very first CO2 system ever! So, that's exciting!

I realized that my root tabs are lacking iron. Which non-clay and non-liquid supplemental iron (powder or smaller granules) can I put in my root tabs? I ordered a larger gelatin capsules that should arrive today--size 000--and want to make a few more capsules with iron and insert them this week.

Finally, I had this idea that I'd like to run by plant experts. What if I also add some pre-mineralized finely sifted soil (that I pre-made for a dirtied filterless project that I never ended up doing) to my root tabs? Would it be a good way to enrich the substrate? Or is it a bad idea?

I do occasionally use all-in-one liquid fert (Thrive) and also add a small amounts of liquid potassium and iron. But whenever I use it consistently, even in 1/3 of the recommended amount, it does seem to cause diatom issues for me. So, not really a fan of ferts that go into water column.

If it makes any difference, I am in Arizona, and use tap water (treated with Hikari Ultimate and usually aged for a few days). I just recently added a heater, and the water is now 79-80 F. Until then, during winter months, the water was around 73-75 F (if that makes a difference).

Thank you so much in advance,

Yulia

From personal experience I just have used osmocote plus and the water column fertilizers, I once too had a diatom issue but it resolved when the tank seemed to balance out. After I put in the osmocote it took a little for it to break down so I didn’t see immediate results but once it did everything really grew out.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I use and unusual fertilizer in my substrate- Jobe's Spikes and this one in particular.

However, they do not contain iron. For that I dose in the water using either of the Tropica Ferts.
If you use the Jobes you can cut the spikes into smaller pieces. They are a time release fert. and I dose them every 3 months. For smaller plants I use snall pieces. These also work for a number of plants in a group where you add a few small pieces. I normally push them down into the substrate and I try to use more than a single piece. I prefer to use several smaller ones pushed into the substratr around the plant. The SPikes come with a warning however. If you are one who likes to rescape or move plants, then these are no the best choice. If you uptooy one into the water colum you wi;; npt belive the algae outbreak you will get.

These are the Tropica ferts: https://tropica.com/en/plant-care/

Premium Nutrition​

N 0.0%, P 0.0%, K 0.8%, Mg 0,4%, S 0.9%, B 0.004%,
Cu 0.006%, Fe 0.07%, Mn 0.04%, Mo 0.002%, Zn 0.002%.
and

Specialised Nutrition​

N 1.3%, P 0.1%, K 1.0%, Mg 0.4%, S 0.9%, B 0.004%,
Cu 0.006%, Fe 0.07%, Mn 0.04%, Mo 0.002%, Zn 0.002%.

The also make a substrate fert:

Nutrition Capsules​

• Nutrition Capsules contain both nitrogen, phosphor, iron and micro nutrients.
• The nutrients are slowly released as the plants need them.
• Use Nutrition Capsules for stem plants, Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus, Vallisneria etc. – all plants with sturdy roots.

How to use the product​

Nitrogen, phosphor, iron and manganese, as well as all vital micro nutrients are released by the capsules over a period of 1-2 months. Place the capsules close to the roots of large solitary plants and plants with sturdy roots.

The capsules do not fully decompose and the small balls inside the capsules will remain in the substrate after all nutrients have been released. The balls are made of resin, which is biologically harmless.