I have to pick up the substrate for my future tank, which will have several carpet plants (Hemianthus Callitrichoudes, Staurogyne Repens). I have 2 options:
What i fear about fertilized substrate is the possible mixing with the gravel in case of change to the layout or replating of some plants, so this makes me lean towards option 2. But my concern is that root tabs won't be as effective as the fertilized substrate.
What do you think? Can the root tabs perfectly substitute the fertilized substrate maintaining the same effectiveness?
I for one, unfortunately haven't used either of these forms. So I'm not much help to you. I've only dosed the liquid and I don't do it consistently enough as is evident by the look of my plants. (Maybe even a change to a root tab would work better for me as well.)
Are you the type of fish keeper who likes to uproot everything and rearrange the whole tank (for something to do) then I would do #2. I personally don't do that to my tanks. It is very very rare that I will rearrange my tanks... sometime I will move a plant or add a new one here and there. And knowing your layout... how much upheaval would it cause.
Just a thought.
If you think about changing the layout in future, then maybe fertilized substrate won't be the best option as a fertilizer. You may use root tabs from seachem. I heard seachem root tabs are pretty good/.
Clay based substrates are good, but once they give up their nutrients, its a major pain to replace and you can only top it off so many times. Gravel and root tabs are fine but keep in mind you need to dig through patches of your HC to get new tabs into the substrate in the future. IMO, the best way is to set it up with a layer of the fertilized substrate and then your gravel, let the roots grow in and continue fertilizing through the water column. The biggest drawback to HC growth is that it gets hampered by limited carbon. You will need a co2 setup or dose excel to help them along with carpeting.
I use peat moss,play sand and a baked clay top coat.
All with no ferts.
Just let the fish provide the nutrients.
But then I don't have carpet plants either.
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