Naw, it’s the name of the game.
You have to dose leaner during the life of the tank if you want to keep soil as long as possible. Otherwise, it’s a time bomb. Unless you find the routine/regime that works for your species. But with those sensitive Rotala - especially mini butterfly - they will convert back to green species/original under higher N. so you pay on both ends: you lose stability by dosing N low, or your plants stunt for stability under higher N. or you have fresh soil and bypass. Or use root tabs early and readily. Or go inert and master tank conditions for the species via looking at natural waters (christels book) or experiment — issue is mini butterfly is a farmed mutation.
Barr does it, Amano did it, green aqua does it. We all cheat this dynamic system. I relate myself, struggled to give myself permission to do so until I got the plant forms without replacement. Like clockwork, if I didn’t water change every three day, they began to crinkle.
GH 5-7 with low kh helps.
Also, yes, I'm kind of chasing magical water conditions, but I know not all plants will thrive. Yes, you got it right, for about two years I just dosed APT Complete, then switched to dry ferts in April or so and then EI at the start of the journal. I'm just seeking happiness for about 90% of my species in my tank at any given time, which I've achieved with Macros dosed at about 30:6.7:30 NO3O4:K and 0.8 Fe as proxy for micros weekly with 75-80% water changed per week.
Is ok - keep chasing. Learn loads doing it!
Reduce N and more light, make sure co2 is good.
Edit: go look at some featured journals plant forms and notice them change as the years pass
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