how much different are Echinodorus Grandifolius, to grow, than Anubias

[anewbie]

That will not work. Swords get nassive roots which need to be able to spread freely in the substrate. The roots must be well buried when you plant it or it will not last very long. Substrate fertilization is done with decent periods between additions. I dose my substrate ferts every 3 months. I dose my water table ferts every week after water changes.

I also use Jobe's spikes for Lush Fern & Palms. These can be cut into any size piece one wants so that small plants may onlg get 1/4 spike or less while a big swaor gets a whole spike but I cut t innto 3 or 4 pieces and push it into the substrate from different side of the plant. This choice of Jobe's means I cannot uproot them. If one does so you will have the worst algae outbreak you have every seen, If you do this soon after you fertilize you may cause an ammonia spike harmful to the fish. So, if you are regular rescaper and change plants, these are not for you.

Here is the thing about those spikes. I have been using them in multiple tanks now for about 20 years. My best guess is this has cost me under $50. They were harder to get in the early 2000s in the NE. I was able to trade 10 of my bn offspring to a gent in FL who sent back several packs of the spikes which lasted me for well over a decade. Since theb I have spent another $10 or so.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010R0LZUG?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Jobe's Fern & Palm Indoor Fertilizer Food Spikes - 2 Packs of 30-Pack​

NPK = 16-2-6 Price on sale for 60 spikes + $7.65

The open concern i have about things like these spikes is do they contain anything that might be harmful to more delicate fishes.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Most ferts for aquariums get the needed nitrogen from nitrate. The spike use Urea. As the spike dissolve this turns to ammonia. However, ammonia in water immediately turns mostly to ammonium. Plants use ammonium and the nirifying bacteria prefer ammonia. There are nutrifying bacteria in the substrate and some plants will actually transport oxygen down to their roots an anoxic.anaerobic areas and then release it. The presence of this oxygen enables nitrifiers to colonize, This als results in area of denitrifying bacteria to form and they will handle and of the nitrate the pants do not use.

As long as one has several inches of substrate and pushed the piece of the spike down in that substrate, the Urea/ammonia/ammonium stays there. But when the spike is dug up the nitrogen gets into the water. This should not be enough to be a prolem for fish as the nitrifiers and water column feeding plants will use it. But so will algae and the result is an algae outbreak.

I have been using these spikes for over 20 years and never had any issues with fish and ammonia etc. I am currently in the process of greatly reducing the number of tanks i have. of 10 10 remaining, only 3 have no plants. Of the other 7 I still use jobes in the subtrate of in for plants in pots. I am still adding the spikes to 4. One 29 is bare bottom and holds only plants with none in substrate. The 150 is all anubais on wood and no substrate ferts needed. The 5.5 only has an inch which is not enough to use the spikes.

Here is a list of some of the fish which have lived in my tanks with Jobe's Spike in the substrate. Fish that spawned are maked with *:
(Excuse mixing Latin and common names but some common names help)

Clown loaches (oldest is over 20 years with me and 12 inches)
Ambastaia sidthimunki (dwarf chain loach) some about 20 years with me.
YoYo Loach (Botia almorhae)
Angels: Scalare* & Altum
Discus
Corys: Panda*, paleatus*, similis*, sterbai*, black schultzei, albino aeneus
Harlequin and espei rasboras
Danios: zebra*, margaritatus (CPD)
Sahyadria denisonii (redline barb)
Siames Algae Eater SAE (Crossocheilos langei)
Rainbows: Pseudomugil furcatus*, gertrudae*; Iriatherina werneri* (Threadfins)
Tetras: Cardinal, Rummynose, Purple emperor
Plecos: tank strain brisltnose reg.* albino* reg.* & long* fin. L450*
Montezuma Swordtails* several strains
White Cloud Mountain Minnow (anichthys albonubes)

Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)
Neocaradina davidi- Blue Dream*

There are likely a few more species but its been 24 years in the hobby and I am old and that is the best my memory could do today

 

[anewbie]

Most ferts for aquariums get the needed nitrogen from nitrate. The spike use Urea. As the spike dissolve this turns to ammonia. However, ammonia in water immediately turns mostly to ammonium. Plants use ammonium and the nirifying bacteria prefer ammonia. There are nutrifying bacteria in the substrate and some plants will actually transport oxygen down to their roots an anoxic.anaerobic areas and then release it. The presence of this oxygen enables nitrifiers to colonize, This als results in area of denitrifying bacteria to form and they will handle and of the nitrate the pants do not use.

As long as one has several inches of substrate and pushed the piece of the spike down in that substrate, the Urea/ammonia/ammonium stays there. But when the spike is dug up the nitrogen gets into the water. This should not be enough to be a prolem for fish as the nitrifiers and water column feeding plants will use it. But so will algae and the result is an algae outbreak.

I have been using these spikes for over 20 years and never had any issues with fish and ammonia etc. I am currently in the process of greatly reducing the number of tanks i have. of 10 10 remaining, only 3 have no plants. Of the other 7 I still use jobes in the subtrate of in for plants in pots. I am still adding the spikes to 4. One 29 is bare bottom and holds only plants with none in substrate. The 150 is all anubais on wood and no substrate ferts needed. The 5.5 only has an inch which is not enough to use the spikes.

Here is a list of some of the fish which have lived in my tanks with Jobe's Spike in the substrate. Fish that spawned are maked with *:
(Excuse mixing Latin and common names but some common names help)

Clown loaches (oldest is over 20 years with me and 12 inches)
Ambastaia sidthimunki (dwarf chain loach) some about 20 years with me.
YoYo Loach (Botia almorhae)
Angels: Scalare* & Altum
Discus
Corys: Panda*, paleatus*, similis*, sterbai*, black schultzei, albino aeneus
Harlequin and espei rasboras
Danios: zebra*, margaritatus (CPD)
Sahyadria denisonii (redline barb)
Siames Algae Eater SAE (Crossocheilos langei)
Rainbows: Pseudomugil furcatus*, gertrudae*; Iriatherina werneri* (Threadfins)
Tetras: Cardinal, Rummynose, Purple emperor
Plecos: tank strain brisltnose reg.* albino* reg.* & long* fin. L450*
Montezuma Swordtails* several strains
White Cloud Mountain Minnow (anichthys albonubes)

Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)
Neocaradina davidi- Blue Dream*

There are likely a few more species but its been 24 years in the hobby and I am old and that is the best my memory could do today

I liked the technical explanation.

 

[anewbie]

By the way this is one of my sword plants after ONE year (no co2); for scale that is a 30 inch glass lid