Feeding Plants / "Axolotl Poop is Enough"

[the1banana]

Hello!

I've gotten started on making a variety of QoL life improvements on my current tank, in preparation for a full upgrade and overhaul when I move to an apartment that allows for a larger tank. So far, this has included, a large driftwood-planted anubias and java fern, a few pieces of slate and river stone to use as substrate for one-half of the tank, and a low-intensity lamp setup for 12h/12h day/night simulation and plant health (don't worry, he's got two hides to make it work out).
The issue comes to the feeding issue. I am notoriously bad at keeping plants and am nervous they'll die again. I opted out of buying the Seachem Flourish since it may not be good for the axolotl as per a cursory google search. However, how else am I meant to feed the plants? From a cursory google search, a few forum goers here and on Reddit have said something along the lines of "Axolotl Poop is Enough", but I have no idea what that means. Does that mean I should just leave the poop around and the plants will soak up nutrients for it? Should I be mashing it up and letting it diffuse into the water? Should I be cleaning it up as usual as just the act of my axolotl pooing should provide sufficient content to sustain these two plants?
Or is there something else I should look into?

Also, attached is a photo of the tank setup, in case any immediate redflags come up on examination. Currently, I have a refrigeration unit with a pump keeping temperatures consistent at 62 F, a sponge filter (apparently good for bio-activity up to 60 gallons), and a marina s10 filter (which I am researching an upgrade to, someone else previously mentioned that a larger filter using ceramic bio media would be far more effective).

 

[wolfen]

the nutrients and nitrogen compounds released into the water should be enough to feed low care plants, if nitrates are building up then there is food in the water column so normal scoop the poop should be ok.

 

[the1banana]

the nutrients and nitrogen compounds released into the water should be enough to feed low care plants, if nitrates are building up then there is food in the water column so normal scoop the poop should be ok.

Just to really clarify, do you mean I should clean up poop when as soon as I see it because the process of defecating has already released plenty of nutrients and nitrogen for the plants to benefit from? Or should I leave it for a bit before scooping?

 

[wolfen]

Just to really clarify, do you mean I should clean up poop when as soon as I see it because the process of defecating has already released plenty of nutrients and nitrogen for the plants to benefit from? Or should I leave it for a bit before scooping?

it's up to you really If you are ok with it being in the tank then just do a routine of scooping the poop every other day or so, just make sure that on the day you do a water change go through the sand with a fork to release any debris and to aerate it before removing water. (this should be done with sand no matter what the cleaning routine is).
the longer the poop is in the tank the more waste is broken down but like I said if you have nitrates then there is waste being released into the water, so even if it is cleaned up straight away there is still some that makes it into the water

 

[the1banana]

Got it, thanks!