CalmedByFish Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 I recently bought my first two species of plants - vallisneria, and dwarf sagittaria. One reason I chose them is that I thought they only need liquid fert, but now I'm seeing that they *must* have root tabs. Which is it? Do they need root tabs? Frankly, I don't want to mess with it. (I was planning to buy more of the val and sag, but if they need tabs, I'll hunt down species that don't.) Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenman Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 As is typically the case, it depends. No one in the wild is wading in streams and putting root tabs around for val and sagittaria. If you've got a rich, nutritious substrate, odds are you don't need to use root tabs. If you're trying to grow them in pure sand, they'll need some supplementation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 (edited) They want nutrients from the substrate, be it active substrate, organic soil, root tabs, etc. They are hungry. Edited March 20, 2021 by Streetwise 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDukeAnumber1 Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 I've gotten great growth with just mulm from fish poop falling into the substrate. Tabs aren't a must but if I was starting a new tank and wanted growth quick I would use them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 +1 Mulm, @TheDukeAnumber1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBOzzie59 Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 I have a couple tanks with both that have never seen a root tab, but they are also under-gravel filters so... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 4 hours ago, gardenman said: No one in the wild is wading in streams and putting root tabs around for val and sagittaria. This image made me laugh. For good or ill, I recently thoroughly vacuumed the gravel. All that rich black bleck is gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 1 minute ago, KBOzzie59 said: I have a couple tanks with both that have never seen a root tab, but they are also under-gravel filters so... Ooh, interesting thought. Does that mean that all the poo is getting slowly pulled down to the roots? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBOzzie59 Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 11 minutes ago, CalmedByFish said: Ooh, interesting thought. Does that mean that all the poo is getting slowly pulled down to the roots? Well it for sure get pulled to the substrate, I'm sure as it decays a portion of it is pulled deeper. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) In a new tank with inert substrate val and sag need root tabs, more of them than you would think. If you don't want to mess with them look for Epiphites (water column feeders). Edited March 20, 2021 by Ken I don't have a clue why the text came out centered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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