Jbl 7 + 13 Balls (root Tabs)

Description

JBL 7 + 13 Balls (root Tabs) — Combined 20-ball clay root fertiliser pack for freshwater planted tanks

A heavily planted tank with several root feeders gets through root tabs faster than a seven-ball pack can keep up with, and buying twice is less convenient than buying once. JBL 7 + 13 Balls (root Tabs) (SKU: 102691) is JBL’s larger root fertiliser pack for freshwater planted aquariums, combining two sets of pressed clay balls into one pack of 20 rather than the seven balls sold on their own. Like the standalone 7 Balls product, the clay stores trace elements, including iron, and other minerals, releasing them gradually into the substrate as it breaks down rather than all at once.

The balls are pressed into the substrate close to a plant’s root zone, with more balls used around larger or more demanding specimens. JBL’s directions are the same as for the smaller pack: press the balls in once a year rather than dosing continually, which suits plants already established in a mature substrate. The product carries no phosphates or nitrates, so root feeding does not add nutrients to the water column that would otherwise feed algae, and stronger root growth from the steady feed is said to help the plant take up nutrients more broadly. With 20 balls rather than seven, this pack covers a larger planted area, or a tank with several heavy root feeders, from a single purchase; the smaller 7 Balls pack (SKU 102690) suits a few plants or a small tank.

Usage & Application

When to Use

• Densely planted tanks: Several root-feeding species that would use up a smaller pack quickly.
• Larger aquariums: More substrate area to cover than a seven-ball pack allows for.
• Established plantings: Mature substrate due for its yearly top-up.
• Stocking up: One purchase to cover a full year of root feeding across the tank.

Dosing & Administration Guide

• Press into the substrate: Push a ball into the gravel or soil near each plant’s roots.
• Use more for bigger plants: Increase the number of balls per plant for larger specimens.
• Spread balls across the tank: Cover each planted area rather than concentrating the pack in one spot.
• Reapply yearly: Press in fresh balls about once a year as the previous dose breaks down.

Product Specifications & Highlights

Key Features

• 20 balls per pack: Nearly three times the coverage of the 7 Balls pack.
• Pressed clay balls: Slow, steady nutrient release into the root zone.
• Trace elements and iron: Nutrients stored in the clay and released as it breaks down.
• No phosphate or nitrate: Feeds roots without adding algae-driving nutrients to the water.
• Annual application: One dose a year for established plantings.

Product Details

• Brand: JBL (Germany)
• SKU: 102691
• Barcode (GTIN/EAN): 4014162201119
• Product Type: Additives & Supplements > Root Fertiliser Tabs
• Pack Contents: 20 clay fertiliser balls
• Contains: Trace elements including iron, and minerals; no phosphate or nitrate
• Dose Rate: One or more balls pressed into the substrate per plant, depending on size
• Frequency: Once a year
• Other Sizes: JBL 7 Balls, 7-ball pack (SKU 102690)
• Target Environment: Freshwater planted aquariums