Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've been using liquid ferts for my 20 gallon planted tank, but my Amazon Swords aren't thriving. Should I switch to root tabs or stick with liquids? Tank has CO2, medium lighting, and a dirted substrate.

Root tabs are way better for heavy root feeders like Amazon Swords. I've got a similar setup, 30 gallons with dirt capped by sand. Tabs near the roots made a huge difference in growth. Liquid ferts are good for column feeders, but swords need that direct nutrient hit.

Hey, don't stress too much. I've seen swords bounce back with either method. What's your dosing schedule for liquids? Maybe you just need to tweak the frequency or concentration. Plants can be finicky, but they'll tell you what they need.

Agree with greenthumb on root tabs for swords. I use Osmocote Plus in gel caps as DIY tabs. Cheap and effective. Just push them deep into the substrate near the roots. My swords exploded with growth after switching from liquid-only. CO2 and lighting sound good, so it's likely a nutrient distribution issue.

I'm team liquid ferts, but mostly because I'm lazy. Dump it in and forget. My swords are kinda meh, but the rest of the tank looks fine. Maybe I should try tabs too. How often do you replace them?

greenthumb wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 4:38 am Root tabs are way better for heavy root feeders like Amazon Swords. I've got a similar setup, 30 gallons with dirt capped by sand. Tabs near the roots made a huge difference in growth. Liquid ferts are good for column feeders, but swords need that direct nutrient hit.

Yep, this is spot on. Swords are nutrient hogs. I replace tabs every 3 months in my 40 breeder. Also, check your iron levels if the leaves are pale.

Liquids are easier for me, but my swords are kinda small. Maybe I'll grab some tabs and see what happens. My tank's low tech, no CO2, so I dunno if it'll matter much.

I mix both! Tabs for the swords and liquid for the rest. Works like a charm. My tank's a jungle now, and I barely know what I'm doing. Just winging it, honestly.

You gotta do what works for your setup, mate. My buddy swears by tabs, but my liquid routine is dialed in. Swords are slow growers anyway, so don't expect miracles overnight. Patience is key.

I've only used liquids, but this thread's got me thinking. My swords are kinda sad, and I've got a bunch of tabs lying around. Might as well toss 'em in and see.