Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi everyone,

I'm in the process of setting up my new 180l tank, and I've decided to try my hand at a planted aquarium for the first time. I've laid down a layer of Prodibio AquaGrowth Soil, followed by a layer of Prodibio AquaShrimp Powder Soil as recommended. I've picked up a selection of plants from my local aquarium shop - I don't have the names memorized, but I have the plant tags so I can look them up if needed.

I've been doing some research on fertilizers and I'm a bit confused. I've come across root tabs and liquid fertilizers, but I'm not sure if I need one, both, or neither. I've also noticed that a lot of root tabs contain copper, which I know is toxic to shrimp - and since I'll have both shrimp and snails in this tank, I want to make sure whatever I choose is safe for them.

Some root tabs claim to be shrimp-safe because the copper concentration is supposedly low and "should" stay in the substrate. But is this really the case? Should I be looking at root tabs, liquid fertilizers, or a combination of both? Can anyone recommend some products that are safe for both shrimp and snails?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

I've done some research on this and it seems that the copper levels in fertilizers are actually quite minimal, essentially trace amounts that shouldn't pose a risk to your shrimp. Interestingly, many shrimp foods also contain small amounts of copper, which is necessary for oxygen transport in their blood. It's worth noting that it's the higher concentrations of copper, often found in certain medications, that can be detrimental to shrimp health.

I'm not familiar with those specific soils, but presumably they're designed to provide nutrients to your plants. In that case, you likely won't need root tabs while the soils are still doing their job. However, as time passes and the soils start to break down, you'll probably need to supplement with root tabs to keep your plants healthy. Just keep a close eye on your water parameters, especially in the first few weeks - some plant soils can leach ammonia and nitrates into the water, which can be toxic to your shrimp and fish.

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies - I'm really grateful for this forum and the lovely community here. I've not had a chance to participate much yet, but every time I do, I'm blown away by how friendly and knowledgeable everyone is.

I really appreciate all the advice, especially about not rushing the setup - I'd planned to take my time anyway, and now I'm even more glad I did. The idea of the soil leaching nutrients for an extended period makes sense, and I'm glad I can just monitor the tank closely for now.

Looking ahead, I was wondering if there's anything I can do to extend the life of the soil - is there some kind of maintenance I can do to keep it healthy? I'm thinking along the lines of adding fertilizers, like I do with my pot plants.

And then, longer-term, if the soil does go dead after a year or so, what are my options? Do I need to completely replace the substrate, or can I just add some nutrients back in? I'm worried about the soil becoming anaerobic - is there anything I can do to prevent that, or is it just a matter of replacing the soil altogether?

I'm trying to learn as much as I can now, so I'm prepared for whatever happens down the line.