I have a lot of tanks with inert substrate and the plants are thriving. We dose the water column and use root tabs. This is a great vid with a lot of info!

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Heather! Glad you likey!

This is probably the most practical explanation I've seen on simple planted tank management. Thank you for putting this together, it was very helpful!

I really like your stuff! Learned a lot from you, thanks! Greetings from Germany

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Germany! Awesome to connect with my Euro friends! :)

awesome info as always

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Patricia!

Very good and informative video. Thanks for putting this video together and sharing it. I've always had good luck with course gravel and dosing the water column with Easy Green or similar. Gravel is fine for simple root feeders if the tank is well established and has some mulm in the gravel. Just my experience. I only keep simple low/medium light plants. Thanks again for putting out a high quality video. It helps promote the hobby. Cheers.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Lumydog!

Thanks! Your videos are clear, informative and fun to watch!

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them! ❤

Brilliant advice sir! Thank you so much for your advice. I will be using your links.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Great! Glad I can help!

Always the best aquarium advice all in one place.

How am I just now finding this channel?! I love this!!

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoy! :)

thank you so much for all this information. I will have to replay it over and over again because I can't retain new information the first time too well but that 's why I can come back and watch it again and again and maybe again, to get it, but then binge watching is always good. :D

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Hey, I do that all the time too. You're not the only one that need to re-watch stuff. Nothing wrong with that.

I'll be checking out more of your vids. Just found your channel and looks interesting. Especially anyone who actually recommends undergravel filters!

Great info. Perfect for any aquarium plant beginners. 👍

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked

Thank you! I appreciate your info and humor! 😂

Great video as always. I really appreciate and enjoy your channel. Your videos are always both entertaining and informative. I use play sand in all my tanks. I use Thrive from NilocG and diy osmacote root tabs. Thanks for sharing and keep doing what you do if it works for you.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and for watching AC!

Great video, I'm about to reset my dirted 40g breeder with inert substrate and diy tabs + liquid ferts. Had lots of success with dirt but it's really messy.

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a plan! Good luck. :)

Love the intro. Found you a couple of days/weeks ago. I honestly don't remember because I've just been binging your content xD

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

LOL! Glad you enjoy!

@kurtlawrence4879

5 жыл бұрын

Did you join the fb page already? If not U should. It's a pretty good one.

Thanks I will try it out. Thanks ans keep up thw great vids

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Danke!

solid info keep it up

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks SolJina! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Really helpful info my local aquarium actually delivered an Amazon sword accidently with my Java fern and Java moss I called them up and they said I could keep it as I am a repeat customer but I had no setup for rootfeeders this videos taught me how to at least hopfully keep them alive in my planted gravel tank

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! Good luck!

Keep it up buddy! your videos are a big help

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks NyCJT62! (Trippy user name!) Keep watching them and I'll keep making them! 🙂

@nycjt6267

6 жыл бұрын

mind me asking what nationality you are? my guess would be Cambodian then philipino if not then def laos or viet lol.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Haha it's cool. I'm Chinese. :)

@nycjt6267

6 жыл бұрын

Cool man!.we probably from the same bloodlines cause you look excactly like my uncle haha. We are chinese/viet

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Haha so very cool! :) You never know right? haha

Another great video man, keep up with the good work, you been helping me a lot know that I'm getting into planted tank. Just one question tho, I'm wondering how many root tabs should I use? I have a 38 gallon tank and it is not fully planted, any advice? Cheers

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Just follow the instruction on the package. Normally I just put a couple or three underneath the area where you're planting heavy root feeders.

This was a great video! I loved the edit and the information flows very nicely. I can definetly tell you put a lot of work into your videos and I may have to take you up on that colab video invite soon... ;)

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks buddy! Totally up for it! We'll hook up soon! :)

Hey man I remember watching your videos last year when I was getting back into the hobby and setting up a new tank. Now a year has passed and my lowtech 15 gallon has really grown in and is lush! I really owe my success to you, thanks!

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks man! I'm glad it's working out!

one trick I've learned is that you can freeze mud into ice cube rays, then plant them like root tabs, slowly so as not to get your tank too cold. If you started with just inert fish store gravel or something, you can plant mud cubes, and then pour in sand on top to make it a proper deep cap substrate, very easily.

Great vid! Would also love to see more on the DIY liquid ferts

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Coming soon!

@sonofaquack6987

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox really? That’s great!

Good info. I like the root feeder / water column dance moves. LoL. I have seen a video on ozmocote for ponds which has the root tab already made.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Very cool! I have to check it out! I didn't know that. Thanks Joe! 🙂

Great video

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Luc!

Great vid as always, would you pls make a detailed vid on where to buy etc? I'm into diy tabs and ferts Tk you once again and do pls keep up the gd info

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

There will be some suggestions of where to buy in my upcoming nutrient seires.

Great vid and excellent tips ! I find dosing my water causes an algae heaven I even use 50:50 RO as the fertilisers left over in the tap water where I’m from are enough diluted to feed my plants. Always use root tabs in my sand substrate though and might even give your home made ones a go 👍

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Great! If you're getting algae blooms, then it just might mean you need to dial back on the dosing. Or plant more plants. Basically the intake of nutrients are less than the the amount you need to dose. The plants can't take it all with either not enough "populations" to "eat" eat or/and it's just now growing fast enough to need all of that. Usually, you can just dial back on dosing. The DIY root tabs works pretty well for me so hopefully it'll do you justice! :)

@FishPieTV

6 жыл бұрын

The Water Box yea my tanks pretty low tech, I lower the light intensity and dose with liquid carbon, lots of plants but medium growth, like you say you have to gauge it for your own tank 😬

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Very true!

@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox That's why I don't dose that much cause the last time I got into growing plant's they got algae or dying & I got rid of the algae & most of them died so I just gave what was left away & didn't mess with it for 2 years& just getting back in it again. After 2 years of no plant's & study doing research on certain plant's I now have a NICE slew of plant's in a 75 gal aquarium a yr after setting up the tank.

Great job :)

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

liked and subbed too also a great video im sure like me there are alot of people out there that need this type of honesty getting into this hobby also

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm glad it helps. :)

Hi, congratulations your channel is great, very informative. I got a question. How do you do to edit your videos. I got a you tube channel but the edit option is not available anymore. Thanks

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

I edit with the adobe suite of software.

I figured out why I'm here and I believe you're the one that can help me! I need this thing that you call 🤔🤣😁"finesse" I'm also excited that you covered undergravel filters! I watched a wonderful video by Colin Barsby that talked about using a powerhead to make a reverse trickle and it allows warm water that is slowly pumped beneath the substrate! I have a 33 gallon long that I am going to set up and it has an undergravel filter installed in it and I would really like to try it out! I want to do a deep sand bed. I've seen two ways of doing it.. putting down a layer of gravel, then soil capped with sand. The other way I saw it done was putting a fine-mesh down first and then dirting the tank and capping it! Or one that I thought of was using a thick layer of stratum and then capping it with sand! Probably by my comment you know I have no idea what I'm doing!🤣 Everyone I've talked to says "no do not use an undergravel filter in a planted tank" because of bacterial problems! But the power head method makes sense to me because it pushes the water underneath the substrate instead of using a air stone that would draw through the substrate! Did that make any sense? 🤣 I am old senile, a girl, kind of blond and still a noob 😁🤣 I would appreciate any help on this subject to properly set this up or should I scratch the whole project and just put in sponge filters! Any which way I do it, I really appreciate your videos! You are a wonderful teacher and very inspirational.. not to mention you are hilarious 😂 I appreciate that! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and I hope you have a blessed week! Thank you for sharing! I'm re-reading this comment and wondering if I should post it 🤣 what the heck, there's nothing to lose and a lot to gain🤔😁🌿🐟🌱🙏

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! So what you are talking about is making a form of a plenum which is a great way to filter abet a but of a set up. Make sure to use a MESH between the UGF and the bottom layer of the substrate. You need to space between the bottom of the glass so you don't want dirt to accumulate there. If you are using the UFG method to push warm water into it, it HAS to be a trickle, like really really low low flow... Or you can just go without using an UGF and just use bio balls, make the plenum without the need to hook up a powerhead.

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Also if you're using soil or sand, make sure to use a cloth mesh, the stuff you use for gardening instead of a mesh type of think like a window screen. The holes would be too big. And I would also nix the reverse pump and just use a air pump and create a very very very slow flow in the empty area.

@marypaigeflynn4512

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox thank you for the feedback!! I believe I will go for it! I'm working now to gather materials. I have ordered soil additives from @Father Fish that I need to add to the organic potting soil.. for my layer of dirt! It looks a lot like the bag of additives you had in a video! I've been watching everything I can find! We have a great live stream every morning where we discuss all things on the subject of dirting a tank. Maybe you've seen it, if you haven't we can always use incredible people like yourself to join in!! He is definitely old school and is a great addition to the KZread community! You guys have so much great information. I feel fairly confident I can pull this off even as a noob!! I want you to know how much I truly appreciate you!! This is definitely one of the best channels out there, I've already decided I'm going to get me one of your shirts, because I like to support great channels like yours!!! Thank you again! 🙏🌱🐟🌿

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

@@marypaigeflynn4512 Thanks!

Just pool filter sand, DIY osmocote, no CO2, and weekly fert dosing and my Jungle val have taken over. I seriously have to do some major bush trimming so my fish can have some swimming room. I've removed a lot, cause at this point its getting to the point of invasive, and seeing how heavily the roots have grown in is amazing.

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds perfect!

You are my official "aquarium advisor" 🤣 thanks for thia info

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Any time!

Hi did you ever used akadama ibaraki has an aqua soil for planted tank? Love your videos

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

No. Sorry.

How much inches do you usually spread out the DIY root tabs? I have a 75 gallon tank that have swords and Vals in the background that are usually 3 inches apart from each other.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

For branded tabs, you have to follow their instructions. Each brand is different and has different nutrient make ups. For my DIY ones, I tend to jam a couple of capsules under a amazon sword about 10-12 inches tall.

AMAZING VIDEO!!!! I love the idea of making my own...less bottles to buy, less packaging...save $$$. 4:47 though...LOL!!! I totally subscribed. :) Thanks for sharing you knowledge!

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching TangibleTania! :)

Ive had success growing plants in inert substrate such as crypts.

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Nice!

@Dazai_s

3 жыл бұрын

how deep is your substrate? mine is 7.5 gallon so idk how much deep crypt need.. i heard 7inches iis the best

Great video! Lots of helpful information. I just have a couple of questions: If you still have nutrients in your substrate, is it still okay to use root tabs or is that overkill? Also, what do you use to dose the Macro Micro nutrient? On the website it says to use a graduated dispenser bottle, but I don’t really know what that is. I googled it and a bunch of different things popped up. Anyways, thanks for reading!

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

You can add root tabs to a nutrient rich substrate (ADA, Soil) but yeh it would be overkill as it's not needed. For substrates like EcoComplete, Strum, Florite... etc... it will help TREMENDOUSLY if you use root tabs as it's not charged with the Macro Nutrients for plants. It depends on what you are using to dose. If you're mixing from dry ferts, a Graduated Dispenser works great. Otherwise, if it's premixed fert, just does from the bottle as instructed. A graduated dispenser looks like this one: amzn.to/2Ivejbi You'd mix or put the fert liquid in the large section and then squeeze the liquid into the small compartment to measure but you don't need something like that. It just makes things easy. Just get a bottle to mix the fert and then use a syringe (amzn.to/2tZlOEe) to measure out the fert and squirt into your tank. Or use measuring spoons.

A very informative video but a quick question: Would dosing and adding root tabs into the soil work for organic soil because I recall you saying in your video for the top 5 substrates that organic soil will have to be replaced. I'm new to this hobby so I don't know much.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Yes it will work just fine. Only two reasons to swap soil. It runs out of nutrient which can take a couple or years or so OR when something breaks down with it. I don't know what would break down soil as I've never gotten there or heard on the internet but a lot of people keep soil going long after it's lost it's nutrient charge. 🙂

Lol true words... Every time I do maintenance i use my tweezers to pick the small eroded aquasoil and put em back to the higher area to maintain my scape... It's hard at first tho my tank is nano, yall wouldnt want to pick beads of aquasoil weekly. Welp my plants appreciated my hardwork and grow onto the slope of the scape and hold the soil so they won't erode anymore. Love my montecarlos

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Yay!

I use flourish root tabs and fluval liquid fertilizer. 20-30 gallon tank. 9 small fish 2 4inch fish. No co2 systems yet (thinking about it though). Gravel. Any tips?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

How's your plants doing? It sounds like a solid start. If you want to try supplementing the plants with carbon, you can always dose liquid carbon like Seachem Excel.

are dwarf hairgrass root feeder?Can i grow dwarf hairgrass on gravel? if i can, will it's growth gets slow and if it gets slow,how much slow will it get? i will be dosing some co2 in the tank with liquid ferts. PS-is liquid fertilizer bad for shrimps? i have heard shrimp are sensitive to heavy metal substance.

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Yes but make sure you're dosing at least. Some ferts can be bad for shrimp if they have heavy metals. I can suggest getting Nilcog Thrive S for planted shrimp tanks. Mix is made for planted tanks with shrimp.

What i do is buy 50% aqua soil 50% regular black sand. Aqua soil on the bottom, topped with black sand. After all the roots are below the surface. Half the cost, still gain the benefits. Then just add some root tabs here and there when you feel there needed.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

That work great!

@ionalexandru8629

5 жыл бұрын

@bojo perez you can also try cow dung. Make sure you first bake it in the oven for an hour to "mineralize" it. Plants love dung!

I planted my plants everywhere around the 55. They’re kinda spread out so do I have to put like 20 root tabs in that piece?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

What kind of plants? But if it's heavy root feeders, it'll help if you do.

Great video! If you have a lot of fish doesn't the fish waste provide nutrients to the water column?

@TheWaterBox

2 жыл бұрын

It does but it depends on how much fish you have, the plants your have, the set up of your tank and other variables. So yes and no. Depends.

The powder fert that you mix yourself. Thanks for the reply

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Oh, the all in one? It's the Macro Micro Nutrient Mix you find here: aquariumfertilizer.com/order.asp

I've had crazy good success with regular black sand and so much so that my tank is overflowing with plants less than a year later. Only thing I added was a root tab towards my melon plant and a jungle val. Hardly use ferts, so would recommend just regular old sand for beginners instead of dumping money on some expensive substrate specifically made for planted aquariums.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Yay! Good to hear! Thanks for the comment!

@antonfelice5284

11 ай бұрын

I've been using construction sand because those sand came from river quarries, the technique is not to wash the sand till crystal clear just wash the sand two times enough for bigger debris to rinse off, you don't want to loose those soil along the sand because those soil gives nutrients.

Hey I want to set up my first tank I've been beng watching all the vids on different set-ups can you please help me

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Pose your questions.

I bought and opened the aquarium co-op root tabs and noticed it is a powder form. Would it be okay to grind the osmocote plus into powder form for it to dissolve faster because i did an experiment putting osmocote in a cup of water and noticed it took weeks for it to dissolve. Additionally, I also plan to grind the Mr. Iron pill. So what ratio in powder form would you recommend for both the Osmocote plus and Dr. Iron powder form?

@TheWaterBox

2 жыл бұрын

It's powdered but it's compressed for long term release. If you crush it down, it will dissolve too quickly to be effective long term.

Can you grow plants in inert substrate? Have you even tried? Let us know!

@niffeecent

6 жыл бұрын

I need help

@Equinoxtrills

5 жыл бұрын

True inert substance is...most likely not possible (each elements is reactive to one another to some extent, everything is volatile) but mostly inert...loosely said, yeah sure! Maybe the least reactive or took a loooong time to react (probably outlived the aquarist), anyways to think of all the chemicals and reactions, I'd say learn some basic chemistry (if dihydrogen monoxide/natrium chloride means something nasty...then well...) but living things tends to take turns unexpected (heck...some chem reactions is not rock solid) those what got me interested in this aquarium-scape stuff, closed system, but mimics and beautify...bonsai is boring...bonsai paludarium on the other hand, is cool (with myst and all)...in essence, I'd say this is the 21st century, progress is made, GMO is the way to go (maybe hassle free aquarium scapes?) maybe magic soil that release all the plant need to survive on a closed system? Who knows...

@josecitonoseque

4 жыл бұрын

Yes Anubias and Java fern

@elmee96

4 жыл бұрын

Yes you can. If you feed the aquarium and the fish eat it. The poop there is the nutrients for the plants. I have never had problems with plants in inert sand och substrate

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

❤

Do you you need to dose the water column when you have a new dirt planted tank? And how often?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

I normally wait a couple of months before dosing macros to the water column as most soil will leech it's nutrients form the soil. I will still dose Micro nutrients (Basically trace elements, like Seachem Trace)

Great information on the alternatives of fertilizing inert substrates. Plastic plants lol!

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Hey! Some people are just happy with the plastic plants!

Getting my research on! Been attending to my 75 gallon for many years but it's time for something different. I think I'm going to get me a 15 gallon and try my hand at live plants. When I figure it out, then it's onto the 75!

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck to you then Delete The Media! Hope it works out!

@zeb33369

Жыл бұрын

So it's been a year now..how's it going with the live plants?

@deletethemedia3445

Жыл бұрын

@zeb Didn't go well for me. Ended up getting a 10g and used bdbs substrate with root tabs. Also used co2. I really struggled with diatoms to the point where the plants were dying. I ended up tearing it down a couple months ago and put in some fake plants.

Can monte carlo grow in sand? I'm thinking about doing a dirted tank with a sand top and i want to carpet it with monte carlo. Is this possible?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, it should work.

I have an established tank with shrimp in it.i cant use most of these things . As I understand it dosing the water column can kill neocaridina shrimp

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Nilcog Thrive S is a good all in one fert that's mixed for planted tanks with shrimps in it.

so wish the diy root tab ferts were easy to get in australia.

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Bummer!

Hi, can i use aragonite sand in a planted tank with angels, ram and neon? Thanks

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

It might not be a good idea. It will raise PH and the stock you want prefer a lower ph enviroment.

Gonna go for water feeders looks way more less complicated what do you think is best for gravel or clay or dirt?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Dirt always did me well mixed with some clay for iron.

Your Right

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

So are you! :)

What plants get nutrients from the watercolumn apart from java fern anubias and mosses

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Some stems do. The ones that don't grow much roots.

“Stick with the little diver guy with bubbles coming out of his mask.” 😂😂😂

@TheWaterBox

2 жыл бұрын

You know how it is! ;)

Make a plenum and use “ Laterite or Seachem Flourite “ ... then cap with the substrate of your choice .. IT WORKS ...

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Yup!!! That is another great solution!

Hey! I'm a beginner to aquariums and I'm cycling my fluval spec 16 right now. I'm rocking a regular black sand substrate, with no added nutrients. The plants I plan on adding are Pearl weed, Hornwort, and Green Cryptocoryne. Do you think I can manage to grow these all without co2? And can I use the Pearl Weed as carpet fairly easily or is there something I need to do? And last question, should I use the liquid all in one fertilizer + root tabs or just root tabs?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Ye, it should be easy. Get root tabs if you're using just normal black sand and of course, an all in one.

@krab4204

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox thanks for the advice

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

np

What is the name of the dry mix that you use to make your liquid fertilizer?

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

It's usually called a "CSM + Boron" mix

fun video , great tips and tricks!!! 💜👍☑

@AquariumCop

6 жыл бұрын

I had the diver guy when I was a kid, he was cool lol🌱🍃👍☑

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

I think we've all had a diver guy sometime in our childhood! 😆 Thanks for watch AquariumCop!

Hey so i recently bought some root tabs from aquarium co-op and buried the capsule in my small tank. only to find the next day that it had floated to the surface and when i tried to push it back down the capsule burst open and sprinkled its contents into my water column. This just happened so i'm not sure if anything bad will come of it. Anyone else experience this? Is this harmful to my tank?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

It should be ok, just try and bury what fell out of it into the substrate.

Ive been looking for an old scuba guy with the bubbles for a 70s tank i have & cant find one damnit

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

ebay

Hello again ! Great video. I have a simple question, about the active substrates like amazonia, tropica and so on. I am aware they are charged for around 1, 2 years max. But you have to ruin the tank because all the substrate is empty or for what reason? For me there is no reason to ruin it, if u after 1 year add nutrion tabs and use liquid ferts and fishes of course. Or you mean the soil becomes dirt and it's hard to maintain? I started using active substrate 2-3 months ago and have too many questions in long term.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

OK. Soil does not equal Aqua Soil. Both runs out. But soil will always be soil. Once the nutrients runs out, it's just basically mud with no nutrient. I can't think of any reasons why soil will break down and be bad that I know of but I'm not a scientist. Gotta ask someone smarter for that. But in my experience, soil is just soil. You can "recharge" it if you want by taking it out and composite it but that takes time. Again, not needed, just use tablets. Aquasoil substrates like amazonia, tropica, ect... are clay or volcanic based substrates. When they lose nutrients, you can use tabs. They do break down over time and become mush. I think seachem flourite doesn't but I've heard a few people mention theirs did break down. When it breaks down, it's messy so it become "soil without a cap" basically. So it's just an aquarium with mud as the substrate. I guess you can add a cap if you want but that'll be a pain in a tank full of water and decorations... etc. So unless there's any other reason other than you wanting to change everything out to have a "charge" substrate, just leave the whatever you have in there and start using root tabs. That's basically what this video is about. I when say "after a year or two, aqua soil/soil loses nustrient and people redo their tanks", that's just an option MOST hardcore planted tank people do. If there's nothing wrong with the soil/aquasoil you're using other than running out of nutrients, then you can leave it in your tank. As long as it's not crashing your tank, you are fine. I think I'm explaining that right and more clearly? Hope that helps :)

@slavihinkov5588

6 жыл бұрын

Very clear indeed. Thanks a lot ! :) Waiting for the next video... ;p

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

NP! Let me know if you have anymore questions

@slavihinkov5588

6 жыл бұрын

My aquarium used ADA AMazonia for 2 months, then something happen I don't know what. The balance was gone and the water turned foggy. I tried stabilizing it for 2-3 weeks but no result, the mist was always there. So I removed the ADA and restarted the aquarium. However the ADA wasn't cheap so i dry it and put in bags. So my question is, is it okay at some point (new restart or new aquarium) to use this soil and should I use something like cap/hat on it to be sure there won't be fog again?

Aloha. So the bag u hold up at 4:01 is Osmocote?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Not sure. I'm not holding anything up at that time code.

I will be purchasing your concoction of making root caps. Will it hurt my Oranda Goldfishes?

@TheWaterBox

2 жыл бұрын

Unless you overdo it, they should be fine but anything can happen. Just be careful not to over fert the plants. Are your Oranda not chewing up or uprooting your plants? That can be a problem if they uproot plants and shift the tablets to the surface of the substrate and they try to eat the pellets or something.

@Socalshortybulls

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox I bought the Mr. Iron pellets and noticed it doesn't dissolve in water. I'm planning to grind it and put in the capsule along with the osmocote. What are your thoughts?

@TheWaterBox

2 жыл бұрын

@@Socalshortybulls No, it's not suppose to dissolve right away. It'll take a long ass forever time for it to do that. It'll give off iron when need for the roots just being there.

Are root tabs safe for snails? Specifically are there any brands of snail safe root tabs.

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

I think so. I couldn't say as I don't work much with snails in fresh water tanks.

If you use root tap. Do you need to dose your water

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

If you have a lot of stem and rhizome plants you should dose your water column.

Can't find the dr iron pellets. Anyone have a link?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

This is the one I use: amzn.to/3cLXo3a

how do you go with algae with root tabs?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Go with Algae? Not sure I understand

My aquarium plants were growing just fine but when the aquarium broke in May and I switched my substrate from gravel to sand they started fine but now they are diatoms every where and the plants aren't growing what should I do

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

What kind of diatoms?

@bt-fc6pv

5 жыл бұрын

The Brown kinds

@bigsky445

5 жыл бұрын

Give it time, most aquariums go thru this. Clean with a sponge & scrub, water changes & time. Just need to let your tank go thru the process. Month or 2 & it should resolve itself.

Could s Repens grow with just gravel, root tabs and liquid fert?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

yes, should be fine

@iswgor1471

3 жыл бұрын

The Water Box thanks for replying, I’ll give it a try.

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

@@iswgor1471 Good luck

Can i grow s repens on crushed lava rock? Im using aqua coop fertilizer

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

I don't see why n' not.

@crehhhnshawjamaica440

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox already did, s repens are thriving👍🏻

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

@@crehhhnshawjamaica440 Nice

3:38 Heck I got a method where I'm only dosing once every 2 weeks! But that takes a little finesse. 😂👌

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Right on!

@fenyx2558

3 жыл бұрын

Do tell

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

👍

I haven't grown too many different plants, but the two "planted tanks" I've done used different inert substrates. I found that soil particle size to be a bit more important than nutrient density. The one tank had fine sand, and the other had larger particles, that were about the consistency of crushed terra cotta. I planted dwarf hairgrass in both and both had fish. The sand one had a pest snail and one female betta. The terra cotta like substrate was in a bigger tank and had a small school of white clouds and a ghost shrimp. At first I did not fertilize either of them. The grass in the betta tank grew very slowly, but it was healthy. The grass in the white cloud tank slowly started to die. I tried plant tabs but it didn't help, so I pulled them out and put them in a shohin size bonsai pot filled with sand and put it back in the same tank. They started to grow normally again after the transplant, and did not need more fertilizer to come back. I think the problem was that the hairgrass in the terracotta substrate wasn't stimulated to grow roots because it couldn't "sense" that it was in a substrate since there was too much if a distance between the particles. Similarly to how a vine uses its sense of touch to regulate its growth, I think something similar can assist rooted plants to create more roots. Most of my plants seem to get plenty of nutrients from the fish waste, as they would in nature. I do add plant food but only when I notice deficiencies, which is not often.

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Very cool! Thanks for sharing

Really good channel, watch all your videos! I’ve had a fluval flex 57l with soil and gravel cap, and filled it with jungle val bacopa and dwarf sag, and also some floating water lettuce. Without buying testers etc how long would you say it would be until safe for fish, (I’m doing 25% water changes every other day) and had it set up running for 2 weeks now. Many thanks and keep up all your good work 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿christian🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Christian Dowling no clue. I'd be guessing. I don't know what soil you use and how much ammonia it leeches at first. Buy test kits, otherwise, to be completely safe, assuming all goes well, 8 to 10 weeks just to leave some breathing room.

@christiandowling6219

6 жыл бұрын

Miracle gro potting mix, thanks for the reply. I’ll wait that long and just focus on the plants until then. Keep up the good work your videos are great

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

You really should get test kits. If something is wrong the first thing you want to do is check you parameters

@christiandowling6219

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks I’ll buy a kit today. Also you say about two types of plant growth juice. I can’t get either in uk with ease. What is the best stuff that’s easy to get in Europe please! Thanks

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Oh crap, I keep forgetting about my euro friends. Try TNC. I hear good things about it and it's made in the UK I believe. So you don't have to buy expensive commercial brands: www.amazon.co.uk/TNC-Complete-Aquarium-Aquatic-fertiliser/dp/B009S4IGOG

I thought anubias and other rhizome plants don't need anything, other than not over-doing water changes?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Like all plants, it need nutrients.

This might sound dumb but could you inject nutrients in the substrate with like an a big turkey injectors? That way you could give only areas that look like there not doing well ? Just a thought !

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

We use what's call root tabs to do that. I'm not sure what kind of "nutrients" you're talking about using a turkey baster. Either dry or liquid it wouldn't make sense since the "nutrients" would just leave the are after you inject it into the substrate.

@TheBrockinater

5 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox I know this is a month old, but I was thinking of doing the same but with osmocote granules. Just sucking them up in a turkey baster and injecting them into the substrate. I assume since the only thing different about this from diy root tabs would be a turkey baster insteAd of gel capsules instead

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

@@TheBrockinater It'll work. Just make sure you get the granular into the substrate. I don't have this problem but people say that the granular kill fish. I think it might be something different for them that's doing it but yeh, they just get distributed into the substrate after the gel melts.

@bigsky445

5 жыл бұрын

That's dumb.. just use root tabs lol. Injecting fertz in the soil will last maybe a few hours, then it will just enter into the water colum. Root tabs works great if you don't have any invertebrates. Most contain copper.. copper is death for shrimp, snails, ect. Hope this helps!

Do you know the substrate of JBL Manado.... ? Whats is your opinion if you do ? Thanks

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Works like Eco-complete and other branded clay based substrates. Doesn't have nutrients in it other than some minor micro-nutrients. Good CEC value though. so make sure you does your water column for sure. The ferts you add into the water column will be stored by the substrate for your root feeding plants.

@Beursblik

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your answer. That was exactly what I was thinking, if the substrate sucks out all nutrients from the water column. How bad or good are the water column plants going to do, like Anubias?

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

They will do just fine. Just keep your water column dosed regardless of what substrate you use. Manado or any of the similar substrate with CEC won't suck up every single nutrient for the water column. lol

Do aquarium plants have a lifespan and need to be replaced after many years?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Well, plants propagate so there will always be new plants that can grow from old. Old leaves will die out and new leaves replaced.... etc. It's a living thing so it depends on the plant

How about orgn soil below and silica sand above and carpeting plants? Does that works?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Where are you sourcing the silica sand?

@pericherlaramachandraraju9796

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox www.amazon.in/dp/B07JB22NXD/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_HUo4EbH03AX49

@pericherlaramachandraraju9796

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox how about growing montecarlo on organic soil in my aquarium? I can't efford aquarium soil as it is too costly in my place. I'm obsessed whit those carpeted aquariums from your channel.

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

@@pericherlaramachandraraju9796 Yeh, that works fine.

I've made the diy osmocote capsules... question is, how many do you put in??

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Normally, I put about 3 tabs spread out about an inch apart under a single amazon sword. I only target areas where heavy root feeders are planted.

@waltjie

5 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox Thanks a lot!

@Socalshortybulls

2 жыл бұрын

Do the capsules hurt your fishes? I'm planning on buying the diy osmocote capsules, but wondering if it would hurt my Oranda Goldfishes.

is it safe to put urea fertilizer pellets in a capsul and use it as root tab?

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

That I'm not sure of. I have to see what's in it.

@abdulhusainchhatariya1636

6 жыл бұрын

The Water Box its a chemical fertilizer used for crops in fields probally contains NPK

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

It's not the NPK I'm worried about. It's the other stuff that might be what's in it that does. But I have to look it up and get back to you :)

I need you help. Im doing my biggest planted discus tank ever. A 220. It has been set up for about a month. Potting soil substrate with gravel cap, clay balls in substate, flourish root tabs, pressurized co2, kessil lighting, and i dose twice a week of. Flourish, iron, potassium, and flourish trace. But some how some of my plants just wont grow. They wont melt or yellow or die. But they just wont root and grow. Water temp is at 84 since it is a discus tank. Thank you and love your channel

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

It's most likely the temperature. Discus needs to be warm. Plants handle and grow faster in cooler temps (74-78). That's the only think I can think of form what you've posted here. What plants are we talking about here?

@jodymarty3179

5 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox rotala indica, staurogyne repens, cardinal plant. Ever the water sprite is slow. But tiger lotus is cruising.

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

@@jodymarty3179 yeh, nothing bugs the lotus, they just grow. I have a feeling it's the temp. My plants stall at high Temps too.

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

@@jodymarty3179 also why I tend to stick with hardy guys like cabamba, swords, ferns anbius... Ect. The sprite should be growing.

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

@@jodymarty3179 but wait, you just have it set up for a month?

I've read that sand is low CEC so it doesn't retain the nutrients from root tabs. What's your take on that? BTW, I'm using black river sand on my planted and plants are growing decently.

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

Yeh, sand doesn't have much of a CEC value.

@jigokutsuushin

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox Since sand has low CEC, does that mean I have to dose my water column less because the sand isn't trapping much of the nutrients from my root tabs? I'm using the DIY osmocote capsules, btw.

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

@@jigokutsuushin You dose as per the instructions. You don't does less or more, regardless of the CEC value of whatever you're using for your substrate or what tabs you're putting in your substrate.

@jigokutsuushin

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox Got it, thanks!

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

@@jigokutsuushin np

THAT LAST ADVICE LOL. DON'T GROW PLANTS HAHAHA

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Hey, truth man

you can reamend aquasoil

Are all aquarium plants compatible with each other? In other words, are there aquatic plants that might have a negative affect on others close to them?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

There are some plants that may grow faster than others and over take their root systems but other than that, it's rare there's incompatibility in which it'll kill other plants outright.

@MrSerendipity01

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox Thanks for the reply. Happy new year.🥂

probably won't see this but what are some plants you recommend? I'm using an aquaneat light.

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

I SEE YOU! ;) What kind of planted tank are you looking to do up? Something simple? Low light, low maintenance?

@Ethan-mw1qx

6 жыл бұрын

The Water Box hello! Just found you channel a few days ago and subscribed! Low light, jungle look, my stock is 2 honey gourami, 10-13 Cardinal tetra, and 6-10 kuhli loaches. In a 20 long. The exact light I got is aquaneat aquarium light 0.5w marine flower white and blue. Edit: I also alright have the dry fert

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

OK any of the plants in this video is perfect for that: kzread.info/dash/bejne/h4itlaWSYsy7l6Q.html Add to that Staurogyne Repens, mosses. If you want jungle, lots of vals, and crinums. A few swords. Stack with driftwood. Go light on the dry ferts at first since it's low light. With that light you have, the tank will look a bit cool. The greens in the plants won't pop as much but if you like the color, then more the merrier.

@Ethan-mw1qx

6 жыл бұрын

The Water Box alright cool thanks! The first video I watched you were in LA are you still in La? I’m in the La area and would like to ask what aquariums/ local fish stores would you recommend around here. Thanks!

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Oh also check out bucephalandra. Good low light plants. Some species need more lights but make sure you do the research. Yeh I'm in LA. I live in the valley so the stores I go to are: Rainbow Aquariums in Arleta (Great Fish Selection Salt/Fresh and Corals) Pet Supreme in Sylmar (I don't buy live stock here. Just dry goods) Underwater Depot in Studio City (great plant selection for low light stuff) Mark's Fish in Studio City (Great Fish Selection Salt/Fresh) Natures Aquarium in Santa Monica (ADA dealer. I get all my ADA stuff here. Sometime has rare plants) CK Fish World in West Covina (Big Store. Tons of stuff. Plants and Fish and Dry Goods. Just far from me) Blue Lagoon in Van Nuys (Small store but has great deals on some stuff like Neons and Amano Shrimps)

Based on your experience, is Dr. Iron safe for aquariums? Will it effect invertebrates or fish's health? Also is there any other cases of its usage from other people or similar brands?

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

It never affected my fish. But I didn't have invertebrates in the tank. But it should affect them. You can always use potting clay. just roll them into tiny balls and let dry.

@ThatGuyOverDur

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox thanks for reply

@TheWaterBox

3 жыл бұрын

@@ThatGuyOverDur NP

Can we use the standard seachem flourish fertilizers?

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

Which ones?

@Aquafinity

4 жыл бұрын

Seachem Flourish Freshwater Plant Supplement Just FLOURISH

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

@@Aquafinity Yeh, it's there version of an all in one. Should work fine.

@Aquafinity

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox thanks

@TheWaterBox

4 жыл бұрын

@@Aquafinity yw

i hate those osmocote pellets , the half shells work their way up and look ugly ! i use jobs sticks . or you can freeze fertilizer cubes and push them under the substrate before they melt ,...........you have to be quick !

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Yeh, those pellet can be annoying! The ice cube are a cool idea.

How do you plant the pills? All the way to the bottom?

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Mostly. Make sure it's right under roots system. I use my aquascape pincers to do it. :)

@johnbearsfishroom8444

6 жыл бұрын

I need pincers then, lol

@TheWaterBox

6 жыл бұрын

Haha, they are cheap! :) Get a set of aquascaping tools on Amazon. It's about $20. Here's a set amzn.to/2G1Vgad

You think I can grow some low light stem plants in sand?

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, of course. Watch this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/oIpqlbivaNO7hbw.html

@zvan2714

5 жыл бұрын

@@TheWaterBox okay thank you!!! 😁

@TheWaterBox

5 жыл бұрын

No problem