Substrate

[Byron]

http/www.fluvalaquatics.com/us/product/A3992-fresh-plant-20-full-spectrum-performance-led/

So I believe this is my light. Being at 4,250 lumins and my tank an area of about 700" so that's about 6 LSI. So very very low. So I'll probably need a new light. Any suggestions? Lol
My tank is 4 Feet long

 
I would not be quick to replace this light, since you already have it.  I have never bothered with calculations for my lighting, primarily because I started out with the basic lighting back in the 1980's and then in the mid 1990's, and I tweaked it with better spectrum tubes, but otherwise it has provided good light for what I want.  Just out of interest, I did the calculations for my three largest tanks which have two 48-inch T8 tubes over them, and it works out to 5 LSI on the largest (a 5-foot 115g), and 6 LSI on the 4-foot 70g and 90g.  The duration on the 70g is one hour less than the 90g as the 70 is shallower and algae is able to take advantage, so lessening the duration solved this.
 
So, my point is that using the calculated numbers, I should not be able to grow plants.  But the photos below show my tanks, and as you can see, they are fairly well-planted.  These tanks have been running for over seven years (I have torn down and re-set but the plants themselves are the same as is the type of lighting; I just replace the tubes every 12 months because they do weaken as they burn.
 
I would acquire some plants, staying with those you have previously mentioned (which are the sort I have in these tanks), with your present light fixture, and see how it goes.  We can discuss nutrients (fertilizers) as this may be necessary.
 
Byron.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

It's a $250 light so I hope plants will be happy under it. 
 

For plant lights you want to pay attention to how bright the light is (lumen, lux, par rattings).  It you don't pay attention to this your  plants may not grow well and or your light could cause algae issues.   Plants are classified by how much light they need (low, medium, bright).  If you but plants that need a bright light source and you have a low light your going to have problems getting the plants to grow.  However if you put in a very bright light algae might be more difficult to control.   Having a lamp of adjustable brightness, with low light plants would probably work better for a starter.  The links below might be helpful in selecting a lamp.  A high cost light is no guaranty of success with plants.
 
http/fotohobbist.com/blog/aquarium-lighting-for-planted-aquariums/#more-136
 
http/www.plantedtank.net/forums/10-lighting/300490-how-calculate-your-tank-lighting-lsi.html
 

 
One thing to note, the only thing that matters for the plants is the PAR ratings (Photosynthetically Available Radiation), the lumens and lux are related to how the human eye perceives light and is not a meaningful measurement for plant growth.  "Bright" lights to the human eye doesn't always translate to 'bright' light to the plants.  

 

[pvtHouse]

Well I have found out that my light is in the mid to high range and I bought my first two plants. Amazon sword and red jungle val. I was a little disappointed though. The LFS didn't have any java moss. Anyone know if I can get some at petsmart? And also, thank you very much for all the help. My fish are looking very happy and the tank is looking nice.
 
Oh hey eagle! I don't know if you remember me. I use to have a different account on here but I forgot the password. Lol my old name was az9.

Btw Bryon your tanks look beautiful.

 

[Jeremy180]

Well, I wish I'd read this thread before Buying the fluorite Black sand.......
 
Does anyone know if this has the same cory mouth mutilation issue as the regular black fluorite?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, I wish I'd read this thread before Buying the fluorite Black sand.......
 
Does anyone know if this has the same cory mouth mutilation issue as the regular black fluorite?

 
Never used it, though I did consider it before I went with the ceramaquartz.  You'll have to be vigilant and watch and report back.

 

[pvtHouse]

Well after giving the tank one dose of flourish excel I read that jungle Val doesn't like it. Hopefully one dose won't hurt it too bad.

 

[Jeremy180]

In case anyone else wants to know, I just found a post on another forum by someone that said they keep 2 khuli loaches in a tank with the fluorite sand, and they frequently dig in it and are fine.
But I'll keep a close eye on things anyway because after searching a while, it looks like some batches of fluorite are sharper than others.

 

[Byron]

Well after giving the tank one dose of flourish excel I read that jungle Val doesn't like it. Hopefully one dose won't hurt it too bad.

 
We haven't discussed nutrients/fertilizers yet, but as you raise this, I will suggest you not use Flourish Excel.  This is a so-called "liquid carbon" that contains glutaraldehyde (and water), and this chemical is a highly toxic disinfectant.  It will kill some plants outright (Vallisneria for one) but the danger to bacteria, fish and plants if it should be overdosed does not justify using it, in my humble opinion anyway.  There is more natural CO2 in an aquarium than many realize.
 
The other thing is that your light may not be bright enough to warrant CO2 addition.  The balance between light intensity and nutrient availability is what ensures the success of the plants without troublesome algae.  And while carbon is a macro-nutrient, it is still just one of 17 essential nutrients.
 
The Flourish Comprehensive Supplement is a good basic complete supplement, and should be the first fertilizer if one is needed.
 
Byron.

 

[pvtHouse]

Hmmm. Ok thanks. Very helpful.

 

[Far_King]

 

 


There are many options for substrate, but to answer your question, plants do not need any soil nor any other special substrate; they will grow just fine in sand or fine gravel.  I have had planted tanks for 20 years using play sand, fine gravel, pea gravel and an experiment with so-called enriched substrates for plants.  The latter made no difference, but did cause other problems.  Your sand will be fine.
 
Plants do need nutrients, and these can be added to the water (liquid fertilizer), or directly to the substrate (fertilizer tabs), depending upon the plant species and your fish load.  Lighting is very important.
 
Byron.

 
Byron, I'm curious, what sort of problems did you encounter using enriched substrates?
 

 
I'll respond to this question before turning to the OP.  The main issue was the sharpness and the substrate fish.  I used Seachem's black Flourite; I went with this because I had been warned off the near-identical Eco-Complete due to sharpness with corys and similar fish, and in my hand I thought the Flurite was OK compared to the EC.  Wrong.  Within a few weeks, the corys in this tank lost barbels, had bloody mouths, and one even lost a part of it mouth.  I had had these corys for some time over fine gravel, so it seemed pretty obvious the issue was the Flourite.  I removed the seven corys to a tank with play sand, and they all survived, and I still have them, now some four years later--though the one missing part of its mouth still is and looks rather comical, but it obviously manages fine--and all of them healed nicely, a couple even regrowing barbels.
 
The other issue is that this substrate made no noticeable difference to the plants.  This was my 70g tank, which had been running for a couple years with the fine gravel.  I tore it down and used Flourite, and I had assumed that I would no longer require substrate fertilizer tabs, but I had to use both these and the liquid fertilizer just the same as in plain gravel or sand tanks (and many of the same plant species in these tanks, under the same lighting).  It was running for just over two years before I decided it was not benefiting the plants, plus I couldn't keep substrate fish in this tank, and the black was more grey under the lighting and every speck of detritus stood out, so I tore it down and replaced the Flourite with play sand.  Now almost three years after that, it is still thriving and the plants are just as good as they were during the two years with Flourite.
 
Given the expense of these special substrates--the Flourite set me back $180 compared to $12 for the replacement play sand--and the lack of any benefit, I would not waste my money on them.
 
Byron.
 


Thank you Byron.  I've literally just put the laser cories I bought in a tank with this substrate.  I'm going to have to try and either move them to another tank or make changes to the substrate.  I had no idea it was so sharp and I'd be devastated if something happened to them.  I may try the technique of sand in a bottle to provide a top layer of sand.

 

[boshk]

Wish i had read this earlier too. Figured i needed soil even if i only want partial planted aquarium.

 

[jag51186]

Just wanted to add that Flourish Excel is bad for mosses as well. I was going to try dosing it in my tank to help aid in ridding it of algae, but of course I had just planted a ton of Italian Val. I did dose it a few times though before I learned about it being bad for them, and there were no negative effects visible.

Also, that light is a pretty solid LED, depending on the depth of your tank, it gives pretty solid PAR values pretty deep down...assuming the link is accurate and it's a 2.0. I have the original version and it's a much weaker light, but still does well for the plants I am working with.