Tactical Error Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I was reading the reviews for the EZ Root Tabs, and noticed that some reviews mentioned having a problem keeping them in place under the substrate because they float to the surface. I’m curious, how much of a problem is that, really? And, how do you manage to keep them from floating? Thought I’d ask before I spring for a large container of them and possibly spare myself the frustration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninjoma Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 On 1/9/2023 at 11:51 AM, Tactical Error said: I was reading the reviews for the EZ Root Tabs, and noticed that some reviews mentioned having a problem keeping them in place under the substrate because they float to the surface. I’m curious, how much of a problem is that, really? And, how do you manage to keep them from floating? Thought I’d ask before I spring for a large container of them and possibly spare myself the frustration. I almost find this to be a feature. If they aren't buried very well, they will float to the surface. As long as you push them to the bottom of the substrate with planting tweezers they stay put. At least that is my experience planting in seachem fluorite and caribsea moonlight sand. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darax Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 The floating issue impacts me. They have a combo of being slippery and buoyant. It is hard for me to keep them gripped in the planting tweezers, so I have to use my finger to jam them into the substrate. I've heard people say that poking a hole in the tab can help keep them from floating, but I have yet to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tactical Error Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 I don’t have any qualms about about burying them by hand - I would imagine that the tweezers are hard to get a grip with. I actually wondered about poking a hole in them with a pin, but what a pain! LOL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwcarlson Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 It can be a moderate pain in the rump, but it's not like threading a rope through a needle. You'll be able to overcome it. I have been poking holes (just put a push pin in the jar with the root tabs), but I'm not sure if it helps much. I pre-poke the ones I'm putting in so I can place them back-to-back. In deeper tanks it's more difficult just because I don't have as much reach. I was at a fish swap yesterday and there was a guy selling like three feet long giant tweezers and I thought maybe they'd be good for the task. 😄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdsnstuff Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) I used a thumb tack to poke a hole in them to let air out. With tweezers they can be a little tricky if they get wet and you have to manipulate them a couple of times. This may be true with any gelatin capsule in water. But I figured it out and I'm getting better at it. I shove them to the bottom of the substrate under my root feeders either with my fingers or tweezers. Edited January 9 by Birdsnstuff spelling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyM Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I always poke a hole now, even with gravel if I don't get them way down they will float up sometimes - it may take hours but it happens. In my sand tank I always poke a hole. Then with the tweezers I squeeze the air out when I have them down where I want them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaigeIs Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 On 1/9/2023 at 1:54 PM, Birdsnstuff said: I used a thumb tack to poke a hole in them to let air out. With tweezers they can be a little tricky if they get wet and you have to manipulate them a couple of times. They may be true with any gelatin capsule in water. But I figured it out and I'm getting better at it. I shove them to the bottom of the substrate under my root feeders either with my fingers or tweezers. I do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJenna Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 On 1/9/2023 at 2:51 PM, Tactical Error said: how much of a problem is that, really When I first started using them it was disastrous...I had tabs floating everywhere. Then I read about poking a hole and squeezing the air out and I was pretty successful at that. I imagine getting them to stay down can be more challenging given the type of substrate you have. I think I have the knack of it down, it's more of the action of the tweezers for me, releasing them slowly to allow the substrate to settle down on top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniV Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I'm trying out root tabs for the first time in my 10 gallon. Didn't know about poking a hole, but I simply pushed them to the bottom of the tank and made sure to push gravel over them. That seemed to work, even after pouring water into the tank afterwards. I'll have to try out that poking trick when I replace them. Hopefully I get the knack of using tweezers. I've tried using them to add stuff into my 20 gallon and they never stay in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLFishChik Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I’ve only had it happen once or twice ( and I use tons of them) but, I just push them down to the very bottom of the substrate with my fingers and they stay put. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 i just stick them between my thumb and first two fingers, reach in there and shove 'em down into the substrate. its really not a big deal. they just need to have a little substrate on top of them to keep from floating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katherine Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I use plant tweezers and put them in at an angle. If I lose my grip on them before I get them firmly in the substrate they pop to the top of the tank, but I actually prefer that to having to fish one off the bottom of my 75. I've never had one come out of the substrate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tactical Error Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 On 1/9/2023 at 4:42 PM, jwcarlson said: I was at a fish swap yesterday and there was a guy selling like three feet long giant tweezers and I thought maybe they'd be good for the task. 😄 I can only imagine how unwieldy three foot long tweezers would be!!! 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I usually put root tabs in sideways using the tip of my tweezers and make sure my tweezers are fully open, or close to, before gently pulling them out of the sand. The sand fills in the spot over the tab and between the tweezer prongs and weighs the tab down, and I don't accidentally pull the tab back up removing the tweezers anymore . I rarely have one float up unless I get in a hurry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rube_Goldfish Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Just like seemingly everyone else here, I keep a safety pin with mine and poke a hole in each before placement. It's definitely a learned skill, or at least it's something I've gotten better at. I also found that coarser gravel gives me more trouble than finer gravel or sand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc24 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 I use a long pair of hemostats to grab them and drive them to the bottom of the gravel. The only floating I’ve had is if they escape from me before I’ve gotten them in place (slippery hands). Otherwise, I don’t have to poke holes and I don’t have them come floating back out. They’ve been very easy for me to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich B Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 After having ongoing issues with the tabs wanting to float, I've found a solution that works for me. As has been suggested poking a pin hole in the end of the tab helps, but I also "squeeze" the tab while placing it in the substrate. Been doing it this way for the past few months and it's 99% effective. If I'm not mistaken, it's the air in the tab that causes the tabs to float so squeezing the air out is what helps. As I said .... this works for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricklax96 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 Has anyone had an issue with Corys digging them out of the substrate? I had the same issue with them floating so I did the pin prick trick on both ends so they filled with water quickly and no longer floated. After setting them in the substrate I would come back to see them dug up. So I stayed and watched next time and found the Cory cats digging them up and trying to eat the gel capsules. So weird and I wonder if anyone else has seen something similar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwcarlson Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 I haven't had them dig them up, but sometimes the gel cap swells up and gets to the top. All the fish seem to want to eat it. I haven't seen any of them die afterwards, so I think it's OK. On 1/9/2023 at 8:35 PM, Tactical Error said: I can only imagine how unwieldy three foot long tweezers would be!!! 😂 They looked like something Gallagher would use in a comedy show. Maybe that's exactly what they were - props. But I didn't stop to ask, they looked like they weighed six pounds. haha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 I've used fingers and tweezers, finding fingers to be the fastest and most reliable. I've never had a floating problem, but I have begun poking a tack hole in each end as insurance, and to start them working sooner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tactical Error Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 Well, since the lfs is selling root tabs for $1 each, (yep, one dollar a piece!) I’m taking the plunge on EZ Root Tabs, and having a thumb tack at the ready! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwcarlson Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 I just put a bunch in a new tank yesterday. Gravel capped with sand and didn't have any issues doing a mix of ones my daughter poked and ones I just grabbed and didn't bother poking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisnobody Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 If you were to weigh the pro’s and con’s, floating being the only mild con, it is well worth the extra effort to push them all the way down. They work wonders and that’s all that really matters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 On 1/16/2023 at 6:44 AM, Tactical Error said: Well, since the lfs is selling root tabs for $1 each, (yep, one dollar a piece!) I’m taking the plunge on EZ Root Tabs, and having a thumb tack at the ready! I’m generally a fan of all the Aquarium Co-op products and I do like the root tabs, but for my budget these Aquario tabs are a good option. Aquario NEO Plants Tab Planted Aquarium Fertilizer (Potassium (K)) https://a.co/d/8mPYPtn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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