I need help planting!!!!

[ANIM4L]

Now i work at PetsMart, so im getting that tahitian sand for pretty cheap and i am really excited. Before i had just gravel and i tried a lot of plants in the tank, may be about 10 plants, and all of them were not making it very well in the tank, so i took them back and went to fakies. Now my dad is getting a tank and i was thinking, since i heard it is easier and beter to plant in sand than gravel, i might give it a try again. I was wondering, would just sand work? If so how thick, like 1.5 inches high? If not, and i need something, i was thinking about that flourite gravel stuff, i love SeaChem products, so i trust it very well, but i was wondering, do i put like 1 inch of that with an inch of sand on top, or do i mix them (which i think would look dumb) or what should i do??? Or another option is to use the flourish tabs u put in the gravel, i heard they work. I tried the flourish liquid and dint like it, atleast it didnt help all my plants. So i was wondering what people thought i should do! PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN!!! im ready for my new ank set up, i just gotta figure out what to use to keep my plants green, i dont want brown plants so please if u can help me, please do!!!

Also, if u can think of other alternatives other than what i said, please tell me, but CO2 isnt something i wanna really do.... thanks a lot everyone!

 

[Mr Miagi]

CO2 isnt neccessary, so u dont always need it! Luckily!

You add your sand on top of the flourite, so your plants roots have access to the nutrients. I dont think there is any specific measure of depth, but perhaps read the package for any instructions.

Sand works fine! And it by itself does the job! Approx. 1 - 2" thick would be good.

 

[ANIM4L]

well i would like just sand, saves me time and money... but would my plants die without any liquid, tablets, or fertilizer??? and i heard 2" of sand makes the bad bacteria grow too much releasing toxic gasses, or am i wrong?

 

[ANIM4L]

also, if i do the liquid, and that is if anyone says it is easier or better, they have a SeaChem Iron that is for more iron in the water, is there a such thing as over doing it with the nutrients???

 

[Mr Miagi]

Depends on what plants you keep really. Different plants have different needs when it comes to nutrients. They could recquire nutrients through the roots, hence the use of tabs is neccessary, or they use nutrients from the water. Either way, youll need to look at each plant you are going to buy or already have and decide from there!

My tank ranges from 1" to around 2.5" at the back, and ive had no troubles. Maybe someone else cares to add there thoughts on substrate depth?

 

[ANIM4L]

also i have heard that sand doesnt hold plants down very well, is this true also?

 

[ANIM4L]

i guess no one else has any ideas? i may just go with sand and find something at the store.... but any extra advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Spyderdf]

I have my plants growing in just sand and they do good, with good lighting. I dont add ANy ferts or anything. Just let them grow lol.
I will start adding ferts to help with their growth but i havent had a priblem without them.