Substrate Question

[lfb]

I tried posting this on the Plant section but wasn't allowed so here goes. I'm currently cycling a 180l tank. I already have a smaller established tank but am still very much a novice. The tank has bog standard pea gravel to a depth of around 5cm and I've planted about 12 various plants and some Amazon Sword (?) from my established tank. With hindsight I realise that the plain gravel substrate is not ideal for lots of plants. What can I do now? I'm giving them Flourish fertiliser liquid, should I get some root tablets as well? Anything else?
Also, I planted some of the plants with the lead weights and foam still wrapped round them. Does this need to come off? Sorry for so many questions but I really want to get it right! Thanks.

 

[Squid]

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Squid

 

[Triumph]

Hi I'm pretty new too but this is what I've done,

I have planted my plants in pea gravel (2"-3" deep) with no special substrate.

I've used tetraplant crypto root tablets and no liquid fertilser. I always remove the foam and the lead bands so I can trim off any dead roots and allow them to spread out in the gravel.

I think it will depend on what plants you have got as to how well they will grow in just gravel and also what lighting you have.

I've tried to go for easy to grow 'beginner' plants which don't need too much light and mine seem to be doing ok.

Good luck with the plants and your tank.

Billy the Fish

 

[mark.w.jones]

Also, I planted some of the plants with the lead weights and foam still wrapped round them. Does this need to come off? Sorry for so many questions but I really want to get it right! Thanks.

Real plant fanatics will tell you that you should always remove foam and weights as this is how plants grow in real life. However. If you remove them from things like vallis sp. and other long flowly type plants they will tend to always float up to the surface when you hoover gravel or when fish go rooting about. This drives me nuts so I tend to leave foam and lead weights on. Foam is only there to protect delicate stems and roots from being cut into by the lead as far as I can see. I just add a liquid fertilizer once a month to my tank and have just put some nutrafin plant gro fertilizer sticks under some species. Hasnt done them any harm although its early days. Also from what Ive read, if you cover around 50% of your substrate with plants this will help out compete algae.

Hope that's helpful