Preloading Substrates

[Henry Hatch]

I add it at the start.
Then cap with sand.

I'd add about a single layer deep of the balls(about the size o a BB or buck shot).

Maybe 5-10 grams per sq ft.

It should dissolve in 3-6 months.
Has NH4/NO3/PO4 etc.

It slowly dissolves better than simply trying to lock under a cap, dissolving rate is based on temp.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Why wouldn't the NH4 cause algae problems ? I would think some might leach from the substrate into the water column.

[Philosophos]

The NH4 does cause algae problems IMO. I can smell the stuff wafting off emersed growth trays set up with fresh AS, so it's not as if the stuff is fully sequestered. Usually new tanks get some diatom algae on any exposed substrate for a little while. I try to perform intense water changes with any new tank though and that does seem to keep it down reasonably.

-Philosophos

[adechazal]

Just so I have this straight, I can stop buying the root tabs at $7-8 per pack of ten, and simply pick up a huge jug of Osmocote and stuff a bunch of the little pellets in the substrate?

The plant tablets from aquariumfertilizer.com list the following ingredients, does Osmocote cover enough of these to really replace the tablets?

PLANT TAB GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
Total Nitrogen (N).......................1.00%
Phosphate (P2O5).......................0.17%
Potassium (K2O).........................3.00%
Calcium (Ca)..............................2.00%
Sulfur (S)..................................3.00%
Magnesium (Mg)..........................2.50%
Boron (B)..................................0.02%
Iron (Fe) ..................................15.00%
Manganese (Mn) ..........................0.15%
Molybdenum (Mo) .........................0.0005%
Zinc (Zn) Chelated........................0.40%

I started using the plant tablets 6 weeks or so ago with great results so I'm hesitant to change but at $5 for 10 tablets they still aren't cheap. Apparently they only need to be replaced every three months.

Aaron

[Philosophos]

Yup, the osmocote works, plenty of people have used it. I'm not sure which kind to recommend as I can't find a good analysis, but it may be on the product label its self.

-Philosophos

[Gerryd]

Here is a link to Oscmocote website:

http://www.osmocote.co.za/

some good info although I am unsure how they ensure the plants get the 'exact' amount of necessary ferts

[Philosophos]

some good info although I am unsure how they ensure the plants get the 'exact' amount of necessary ferts

The marketing fairies do it late at night while snorting lines of pixie stick sugar.

More seriously though, page 8 of the brochure on that site gives an analysis. It's kind of a messy paste job, so I'll just provide the brochure link:
http://www.osmocote.co.za/brochure.pdf

Way better stuff than hobby branded fert tabs.

-Philosophos

[brendokae]

Just some suggestions you can put the in a Ice cube and push into youre substrate. works fine..

[nipat]

I (used to) put them into a capsule (a la Tropica's), like this:
http://www.my-mac.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2374