What is everyone's opinion about what plant food/fertilizers are best? There seems to be the tablets (that go in the gravel bed?) and the liquid type that goes in the water. I thought I wanted tabs so that I wouldn't have to add to many chemicals to the water, but my fish store only carries liquids. Also, do I want the ones that call themselves "food" or the ones called "fertilizers"? What is the difference?

I need something that will make my new plants strong and healthy because my fish have taken a liking to eating them and I want the plants to be able to fight back.

Hmm If im not mistaken there bothing diffrent things. The ones you put
in the substrate is for the roots to absorb nurtrients. And the liquid is for
extra stuff for the plants to grow healthy. Like extra CO2 ect.
The brand Flourish seems to work good. You can get tabs, And the liquid aswell.
(Flourish Root tabs, Flourish, Flourish execel)

Let me go look for those links...

-Alex

Here are some links to the products im talking about:

trace element fertilizer:
http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/sk...2c35+1123337708
excel:
http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/sk...2c35+1123338905

tabs:
http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/sk...2c35+1123339069

There are also places online where you can buy them, if you can't get them localy.

hmmm... Thanks.

So what seems to help the plants more? Root nutrients or stem nutrients? Or is a combination the way to go?

Personaly Im trying to get all 3 of them. but im sure a combination wouldn't hurt.

It depends on the plants you are trying to grow. Some plants take more nourishment from the roots (rosette plants, such as Amazon swords, crypts, that type of thing). They benefit from the root tabs. Other plants take nutrients from the water, things such as water sprite, hygrophila, anacharis, etc. They benefit more from fertilizer added to the water.

I add fertilizers to the water, and tuck the root tabs under the rosette plants

Excel is a good product if you are not using CO2.