Root tabs in Reef tank

[Aquadude1]

So i have a new 5 gallon reef and i have been struggling with low nutrients, reoccurring dinos, and unhappy corals (leathers and lps).

I dont usually like dosing for po4 or no3. I read the ingredients on the api root tabs i had laying around and thought i might give it a shot.

After a week and half and 5 api tabs, everything looks much happier. Coraline has its color again and green algeas are growing healthy (i assume because of the iron). Leathers are also much happier. Duncan has oppened up a ton and it wasnt doing bad before.

I am not recommending others do the same, just thought id throw the idea out there.

 

[NanoSteam]

I've seen folks using fresh water root tabs for their mangrove plants in reefs so I always figured they are "reef safe".

 

[CHSUB]

So i have a new 5 gallon reef and i have been struggling with low nutrients, reoccurring dinos, and unhappy corals (leathers and lps).

I dont usually like dosing for po4 or no3. I read the ingredients on the api root tabs i had laying around and thought i might give it a shot.

After a week and half and 5 api tabs, everything looks much happier. Coraline has its color again and green algeas are growing healthy (i assume because of the iron). Leathers are also much happier. Duncan has oppened up a ton and it wasnt doing bad before.

I am not recommending others do the same, just thought id throw the idea out there.

I add Seachem root tabs a few times a year. However, I use them around my planted mangroves and assume the nutrients are not escaping the sand bed. Are you just tossing them in?

 

[Aquadude1]

So i have a new 5 gallon reef and i have been struggling with low nutrients, reoccurring dinos, and unhappy corals (leathers and lps).

I dont usually like dosing for po4 or no3. I read the ingredients on the api root tabs i had laying around and thought i might give it a shot.

After a week and half and 5 api tabs, everything looks much happier. Coraline has its color again and green algeas are growing healthy (i assume because of the iron). Leathers are also much happier. Duncan has oppened up a ton and it wasnt doing bad before.

I am not recommending others do the same, just thought id throw the idea out there.

I add Seachem root tabs a few times a year. However, I use them around my planted mangroves and assume the nutrients are not escaping the sand bed. Are you just tossing them in?

No i put them in the sand. I got the thought from the walstad method.

I love weekly water changes but they were making my coral more unhappy and dinos more happy.

I wanted a slow release of various nutrients.

 

[CHSUB]

walstad method

Yes vaguely familiar with this as I have a planted freshwater aquarium too. I’m thinking some nutrients might escape the sand bed, but truly not sure. I noticed my mangroves stopped dropping leaves when I recently added root tabs after not doing so for a while. So for my concerns, they work.

 

[Aquadude1]

walstad method

Yes vaguely familiar with this as I have a planted freshwater aquarium too. I’m thinking some nutrients might escape the sand bed, but truly not sure. I noticed my mangroves stopped dropping leaves when I recently added root tabs after not doing so for a while. So for my concerns, they work.

I read through your mangrove thread, and ive been contemplating if organinc potting soil in a media bag under a sand cap could be helpful for new tanks. I plan to hopefully experiment with that idea on a bigger tank at some point.

 

[CHSUB]

I read through your mangrove thread, and ive been contemplating if organinc potting soil in a media bag under a sand cap could be helpful for new tanks. I plan to hopefully experiment with that idea on a bigger tank at some point.

Definitely seems to help mangroves and not otherwise cause negatives in the reef inhabitants. Might have even been beneficial to everything?

 

[erttydabeast]

You get shrimp safe ada root tabs and can dose the freshwater fluval nitrogen and phosporus, is cheap

 

[Aquadude1]

You get shrimp safe ada root tabs and can dose the freshwater fluval nitrogen and phosporus, is cheap

I hadnt hear of those before, that could work. I like to try and avoid liquid dosing as im not sure no3 and po4 is all thats deficient.