Is Substrate Supplement Enough?

[naturalmystic]

Hi All,

Firstly, I would like to apologise for this extremely noob question

I am thinking, is substrate supplement, like Wonder-Gro Pro Root+, enough to maintain planted tank without dosing liquid fertilisers?
Since most plants take in the nutrients via roots, how does liquid fertilisers help?

Based on my totally unscientific observation, those non-aquatic garden plants do not need to be sprayed with liquid fertilisers right?
They do need fertilisers which are normally capsules inserted into the soil or those scattered on the surface of the soil.

I am now having root supplements for my planted tank as well as weekly dosing of macros and micros.
I am tinkering with the idea that if I can do without the latter, algae-related issues should be controllable.
So far, I have yet to put this into action.
Trying to minimise mistakes and not just follow my signature blindly

[Aquaculture]

I'll not go into the finer details of what a plant needs but you do have to understand that it need micro & macro to have a balance diet. Plants, like us need a whole lot of vitamins to be healthy. A substrate supplement, regardless of brand only offers a few added vitamin and is usually skewed to a particular one.

Unless yours is a low tech tank, then your fert regime would comprised of a little leftover food and waste from your fauna.

[naturalmystic]

Thanks for the reply bro.

I am not going to be argumentative but just like to clarify my doubts.
Caption on Wonder-Gro Pro Root+ from MizuWorld:
"It contains all essential elements (N, P, K, Fe, micro elements and a wide range of other important minerals and nutrients)..."
So each tab already has micros and macros; but now I am thinking it may not be or is not enough.

On another note, is my fert regime too little?
I'm using Seachem Fluorish (all 3 bottles of PKN) and trace elements from Easy-Life Profito.
I just followed the directions for weekly dosage.

I truly appreciate all inputs, contructive or destructive, to further my understanding.

[uklau]

Wonder-Gro Root+ tabs did wonders to all my Echinodorus & Cryptocoryne. They did well even in plain gravel supplement with only the root tabs. I believe Wonder-Gro Root+ is also beneficial to any other root feeders.

[naturalmystic]

Hi Lau,

Thanks so much.
You hit the jackpot with the term root feeders.
It completely slipped my mind but I have Windelove and Nana Petites in my tank.
There is no way they will get the nutrients from root supplements.

Thanks all to those that participated, and contemplating to participate, in this short and swiftly terminated thread

[RHX]

From my experience, root/substrate supplement is not enough. I had ADA amazonia substrate w/powersand special + ADA powders as base fertilizers. I thought it would be enough, so i've stopped my liquid fertilizer regime. 1 month later, my eriocaulion & tonina starts to exhibit some nutrient deficiency. The plants only starts to grow better when i've added liquid fertilizers.

[Salphur]

I have heard that some nutrients like the Macro (N,P,K) are more readily absorbed via plant leaves in the water column apart from taking in via the root systems in the substrate.

I guess, it is essential for liquid ferts even in the case of rooted plants.

Cheers!