Easy Root Tabs

So far so good. The only reason they didn't get a 5 stars: as a first time root tab user, I was unaware that they have some air in them and must have small holes poked into them and prefilled with water. This info is not on the packaging. I found out the next day when some of them started floaing up through the substrate. Thankfully the Aquarium Co Op forum came through with the needed information, I just wish it was on the bottle to prevent first time users from having any issues. Thanks for everything y'all do!

I have wanted to write this review many times but talked myself out of it each time until now, when I was using up the rest of this order of tabs. I have used hundreds of these root tabs and each time has been a frustrating experience. It is ridiculously difficult to keep these buried in your substrate. I have tried using these in standard heavy aquarium gravel, eco-complete, sand, and a combo of these together and have had the same experience: they will not stay buried, even in a 3.5-4” deep substrate bed.

They will either immediately float up or you will come back to your tank 5-10 minutes later to find root tabs sitting on the surface of your substrate or worse, floating at the top of the tank (which gives you the fun job of trying to figure out where you now have to re-add tabs).

The coop has said that the fertilizer in the root tab shouldn’t be harmful to anything living in the tank or cause issues with water quality which is good. It does kind of defeat the purpose though when root tabs are supposed to add fertilizer to the substrate, not the water column.

Also, once they are in the water for a few minutes you aren’t really able to push them back into the gravel because they disintegrate when touched. Cory has given “tips” on how to solve this problem by using a needle to poke a hole in each root tab to squeeze the air out but that is an annoying solution to the user, especially when they are trying to use 100+ of them at once.

When they stay in the substrate they work great but their finickiness makes them not worthwhile even with how much of a bargain they are. They are very hard to recommend to the point that I actually dissuade others from buying them which is unfortunate because they do fertilize plants very well.

I have wanted to write this review many times but talked myself out of it each time until now, when I was using up the rest of this order of tabs. I have used hundreds of these root tabs and each time has been a frustrating experience. It is ridiculously difficult to keep these buried in your substrate. I have tried using these in standard heavy aquarium gravel, eco-complete, sand, and a combo of these together and have had the same experience: they will not stay buried, even in a 3.5-4” deep substrate bed.

They will either immediately float up or you will come back to your tank 5-10 minutes later to find root tabs sitting on the surface of your substrate or worse, floating at the top of the tank (which gives you the fun job of trying to figure out where you now have to re-add tabs).

The coop has said that the fertilizer in the root tab shouldn’t be harmful to anything living in the tank or cause issues with water quality which is good. It does kind of defeat the purpose though when root tabs are supposed to add fertilizer to the substrate, not the water column.

Also, once they are in the water for a few minutes you aren’t really able to push them back into the gravel because they disintegrate when touched. Cory has given “tips” on how to solve this problem by using a needle to poke a hole in each root tab to squeeze the air out but that is an annoying solution to the user, especially when they are trying to use 100+ of them at once.

When they stay in the substrate they work great but their finickiness makes them not worthwhile even with how much of a bargain they are. They are very hard to recommend to the point that I actually dissuade others from buying them which is unfortunate because they do fertilize plants very well. This is a coop product I unfortunately can’t get behind.

One of the reasons I love this product is how quickly it enlivens my plants.
About every month or so, I can see that my rooted plants need a little improvement, leaves look a little dull, in need of a bit of sparkle. I do my regular maintenance, I add the Easy Root tab, and the next day all my rooted plants look great, I can see a marked boost, shinier and stronger leaves. There is a marked improvement, very visible.
Here is a tip I would like to pass along about the tabs. When I first started to use them after enclosing them in the gravel, the tab would pop out and float. It was annoying! Then one day it dawned on me to pierce both ends with a thumbtack, and "walla", there you go, problem solved!

Very easy to use I definitely recommend buying the 60 capsules vs the 20 especially if youve got alot of plants that are hesvy root feeders

My plants definitely benefit from the root tabs. A new leaf popped two days after I put them in. My problem was half of them floated up and opened up in the tank. I had to clean it up and my snail was all over eating a hunk, so I was concerned. After investigating I found instructions on pricking a hole and squeezing the air out under water before inserting. I will try it next time but wish I had known on the front side. Hopefully they will stay submerged next time. Great price compared to Seachem.

When my plants start to look a little stunted or browning, I know it’s time to put more in, once I do a couple days later they are looking great

I really appreciate these root tabs, they are easy to place and help keep my root feeders happy. That cap though is a bit difficult to get off when you first open the bottle.

Easy Root Tabs

Easy Root Tabs are the only fertilizer I use from now one for my Amazon Swords. I recently strayed away and used a competitor fertilizer and regret the decision. Thankfully my swords are bouncing back with Easy Root Tabs.