Two questions about my aquarium

[PheonixKingZ]

First I would like to know, what do you guys use for bottom dwelling fish to hide in? I want natural decor for my tank and not pipes or pots.

When I had Cory’s, they loved to hide in the Val’s and the driftwood. As long as there are dense plants in the back of the tank, they should feel comfortable hiding there.

Second, I want to ask about me adding root tabs and in-substrate plants to the tank? I want to do a few amazon swords and other fast growing plants and wanted to know if these root tabs would be ok?

I personally don’t like the ones that people DIY, because you have no idea what they added to the capsule. Here are the ones I use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M8DTQ4D/?tag=ff0d01-20

 

[Slaphppy7]

The osmocote-loaded capsules are perfectly safe for fish tanks.

What I DO NOT like about them is that when the capsule dissolves, and the substrate is disturbed (even slightly), the osmocote balls get spread all over the tank...unsightly

@Rocky998, hold off on ferts while the tank is young...get easy-to-grow plants, that don't need ferts

The only ferts my plants get (in well-established tanks) is fish poo, and they do just fine

 

[OliveFish05]

Please try to do things naturally, why would a fish want to hang out in a man-made pot rather than a piece of driftwood or a natural rock cave. You must think like a fish.

You should add that to your signature

 

[AbbeysDad]

Can you use osmocote in an aquarium?

Some hobbyists use osmocote capsules and report success, but I feel that osmocote is an agricultural fertilizer not best suited for aquarium use and you rarely if ever hear of the failures. I'd stick to a root tab intended for aquarium use (I like the Seachem product).
As for caves, I confess that in my 60g display tank I have a fake hollow log covered with an anubus and java moss that looks pretty real. You might go outside and get some rocks (a flat one for the top) to make a cool looking cave.
Just remember, a cave is also a place for a fish to go to die (and waste to accumulate and rot) and may be difficult to clean out. ■

 

[Rocky998]

You never quite know what you're getting with etsy stuff.

In the section that talks about the product, the end paragraph shows all the ingredients and percentages of stuff they use

 

[Rocky998]

The osmocote-loaded capsules are perfectly safe for fish tanks.

What I DO NOT like about them is that when the capsule dissolves, and the substrate is disturbed (even slightly), the osmocote balls get spread all over the tank...unsightly

@Rocky998, hold off on ferts while the tank is young...get easy-to-grow plants, that don't need ferts

The only ferts my plants get (in well-established tanks) is fish poo, and they do just fine

Could I do amazon swords still?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Could I do amazon swords still?

Sure...but like everything else, plants tend to do much better in established tanks

 

[Rocky998]

Sure...but like everything else, plants tend to do much better in established tanks

Arent plants supposed to help establish tanks? I mean people use them to cycle their tanks... I just want to get more plants in for my fish to hide better and feel more comfortable. I also would like to get plants to help with nitrates by taking up amm and nitrites

 

[Slaphppy7]

Arent plants supposed to help establish tanks? I mean people use them to cycle their tanks... I just want to get more plants in for my fish to hide better and feel more comfortable. I also would like to get plants to help with nitrates by taking up amm and nitrites

Yes, but an established aquarium will have more nutrients for plants that require higher amounts than other plants

 

[Rocky998]

Yes, but an established aquarium will have more nutrients for plants that require higher amounts than other plants

This is why I was looking into root tabs... I just want some more plants for the fish to hide in

 

[Slaphppy7]

This is why I was looking into root tabs... I just want some more plants for the fish to hide in

Understood

 

[Byron]

Re the Osmocote. This is a fertilizer for terrestrial plants. The nutrient requirements of terrestrial plants differ from those of aquatic plants. The primary issue with Osmocote is the nitrogen. Terrestrial plants use nitrate taken up via the roots from the soil/water (the latter when grown hydroponically for example, but nutrients in the soil are also released when watered).

Aquatic plants do not take up nitrogen via the roots, they do it via the leaves (generally, there are always exceptions). Nitrogen taken up is in the form of ammonia/ammonium, through the leaves.

So right off the bat, there is 12% nitrogen in Osmocote which will do nothing but cause algae. And this has been proven; it may not always, depending upon the other factors, but all else being equal, problem algae will tend to occur. Flourish Tabs do not have this problem; to cite from Seachem: "They contain no phosphate or nitrate that would promote algae proliferation."

Second issue is phosphate. Assuming there are fish being fed, there is more than sufficient phosphate for plants naturally occurring in an aquarium. Algae can be an issue here too.

The blurb on the site linked in post #1 mistakenly says the iron will make red leaf plants more red. Nonsense. Plant leaves appear red to us because the leaf is reflecting red light. Red-leaf plants need brighter light for this reason, because red is a primary driver of photosynthesis and reflecting it reduces what is available for the plant so it needs more. While iron is one micro-nutrient plants need, it is also a heavy metal that can kill plants, bacteria and fish so it should never be dosed in excess. I fell into the "iron myth" several years ago, and by increasing iron fertilization managed to kill my floating Water Sprite in one tank.

There are safe substrate tabs, worth the higher cost (assume this is what drives many looking for cheap substitutes regardless of the detriments).

 

[AbbeysDad]

Arent plants supposed to help establish tanks? I mean people use them to cycle their tanks... I just want to get more plants in for my fish to hide better and feel more comfortable. I also would like to get plants to help with nitrates by taking up amm and nitrites

Yes they do! Plants, especially fast growing floating plants use ammonia as their nitrogen source...so this ammonia used is not converted into nitrites and nitrates by beneficial bacteria - so they indirectly reduce potential nitrates.
My friend Byron has often started new tanks with lots of plants and just a few fish and it works really well with no long term and involved cycling procedure. This really is also the essence of the Walstad Method (setting the whole 'dirt' thing aside for a minute - lots of plants and just a few fish).

 

[itiwhetu]

Yes they do! Plants, especially fast growing floating plants use ammonia as their nitrogen source...so this ammonia used is not converted into nitrites and nitrates by beneficial bacteria - so they indirectly reduce potential nitrates.
My friend Byron has often started new tanks with lots of plants and just a few fish and it works really well with no long term and involved cycling procedure. This really is also the essence of the Walstad Method (setting the whole 'dirt' thing aside for a minute - lots of plants and just a few fish).

I am surprised this method isn't promoted more on this site.

 

[Uberhoust]

Please try to do things naturally, why would a fish want to hang out in a man-made pot rather than a piece of driftwood or a natural rock cave. You must think like a fish.

Although I totally believe in the artistic sense with the statement, I would say the fish really don't care as long as they have the shelter. Based on a long history of river and ocean snorkeling and diving. Fish hang out under cover, that can be a fallen log in the lake or the bait bucket that fell off the boat.