Tropical Tank Advice.

[Metta]

I would add the plants at the same time you change to sand. it will save messing round in the tank a second time, and the plants will make up for the bacteria you will lose on the gravel.

Thanks mate, What plants would you advice or any I choose will be fine? Is there anything I need to add into the tank to keep the plants healthy?

 

[Essjay]

I have plants that grow attached to decor and floating plants rather than those that grow rooted in the substrate. If you want to try the kind that attach to decor, look at java fern, anubias and bucephalandra - there are different varieties of java fern and several species of anubias and buce. My floating plants are water sprite and frogbit. All of these get their fertiliser from the water so I use Seachem Flourish Comprehensive supplement for the Planted Aquarium; TNC Lite (not Complete) is another good fertiliser.

If you want plants that grow in the substrate, some need root fertiliser - Seachem Flourish root tabs is one of the best - but I know little about this type of plant. It is this type that I would plant at the same time as changing to sand. The plants grown on decor and floating plants can be added at any time, though floaters are very good at taking up ammonia and will prevent the possibility of a mini cycle.

 

[Metta]

I have plants that grow attached to decor and floating plants rather than those that grow rooted in the substrate. If you want to try the kind that attach to decor, look at java fern, anubias and bucephalandra - there are different varieties of java fern and several species of anubias and buce. My floating plants are water sprite and frogbit. All of these get their fertiliser from the water so I use Seachem Flourish Comprehensive supplement for the Planted Aquarium; TNC Lite (not Complete) is another good fertiliser.

If you want plants that grow in the substrate, some need root fertiliser - Seachem Flourish root tabs is one of the best - but I know little about this type of plant. It is this type that I would plant at the same time as changing to sand. The plants grown on decor and floating plants can be added at any time, though floaters are very good at taking up ammonia and will prevent the possibility of a mini cycle.

Awesome it’s all a learning curve but it’s going good some brilliant information here!

Do you have any photos of your tanks?

 

[Essjay]

I don't have any recent ones, this one was taken a year ago. I thinned out the water sprite (on the surface) a couple of weeks ago so there's a lot less now.



The shrimp tank has undergone quite a big change since I photographed it; I'm waiting for a piece of wood to finally sink before it's ready.