FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi everone. Ive got some questions to my planted aquarium as I'm sort of new to this and I've started "late". I'm only 11 but I wish I would've discovered fish sooner than I did! First off I've so far got a 30 gal. with 60 wat. lights but no Co2 injector(christmas is fast approaching) I want to plant my aquarium more heavily as I've so far only got 2 amazon swords, some Hornwort and some Valisnera. I was wondering how thick of a layer of gravel I should have in order to plant my aquarium more heavily? Any help and/or tips about planted aquaria and an answer to my question would be nice. Thanks

At 2wpg your light is good. Amazon swords can really put out some large root systems, as do crypts and some stem plants.. A 3 inch fine gravel base will do nicely..

Don't worry about co2 yet, you can make your own setup later if you feel your plants are lacking something..

If your gravel is 'aged' it will have some nutrients plants can use. If it's new, you may want to get some Jobe's plant spikes (for lush palms and ferns) very cheap. Break them into quarters. put a piece or 2 under the gravel, near the roots of the sword.

Welcome to FP !

The Amazon Nut...

For 11yld you question is very clear and well written.

At least you have started out correctly with live plants. As far as depth (what do you have now) depth is important so is the type and size of substrate (gravel base).

In the 11G Betta tank I have a natural coloured 1-3mm gravel it is 3ins at the front and 4+ins at the back.

The 5ft heavly Anubias tank is a lighter natural colouring 2-4 mm and about 3ins all over.

I would read as much as you can and then more. This way you will come up with plenty of questions that might sound very silly but please ask we have all been through the learning stages.

What might help is exactly where in Canada are you as there could be some one in you area who could be of assistance. I know there is a swap plant group in Canada some one again might be able to assist you.

Sorry I am just a little bit to far to actually help in that way I am at the opposite end bottom of Aust.

I think you also could be the youngest me again opposite end possibly the oldest regular

[link=My Betta Desktop tank photos]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

[link=Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.]http://www.fishprofiles.com" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Thanks. My spelling and good online grammar comes from years of msn I will try some plant spikes and also some fine gravel/substrate. I was talking with some of my fish buddies who have 5+ years of plant experience at the least ant the said they've always had success with thicker layers of gravel at the back and thinner ones at the front because heavy rooters tend to be mid-ground or back-ground plants anyways. Thanks alot for your help.

Oh sorry btw I only have a very, thin probably not even 1", gravel layer. I will be soon upgrading though thanks to you guys. Thanks again

Hi,
The gravel in a planted tank should average around
3-4 inches thick. The reasons for the sloping gravel
are so that the larger more deeper rooted plants have
adquate depth to anchor themselves and establish
a root system that will draw the nutrients that they
need. Also, it allows the debris that forms on the
surface to slowly work its way down to the front of the
tank where it can be easily syphoned off.

The use of plant tablets and plant spikes needs to be
done carefully. Rarely do you need, for instance, a
full spike for A plant. Generally, you can snip them
into halves or even quarters and push them into the
gravel near the plant roots. Once they are in the
gravel don't disturb the plant or the spike as very
large deposits of nutrients form around them and if
you open that pocket up to the tank through uprooting
or digging around, that can cause some serious
algae outbreaks.

Unless you are really heavily planting that tank, the
fish should provide much of what the plants will need
to start with and the use of added fertilizers unnecessary.
The trick is to look at the plants and see how they are
growing and how they look. Their appearance and growth
will tell you if you need to start adding ferts and what
to add.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks a lot Frank but can you recommend any good fertilizers and how to use them? Will I need weekly water changes? If so, how much per week? Thanks

Hi,
For liquid ferts, I like the "Flourish" brand. They
make several that range from a "one size fits all" general
fert to those with additonal iron, etc.
For the in the gravel type, I've used the TetraMin series
of spikes, tablets, and balls.

Personally, I've always done a 10% water change weekly.
But then that's me and after 50 years of fish keeping,
it's sort of ingrained.

If you run a "low tech tank," that is low light, fish,
and no CO2, then you don't need(want) to change the water
that often as when you do, you "dilute the soup" that
is feeding the plants. If you are running over 2 wpg,
and injecting CO2, then I would do the water changes.

Swords, particularly the larger ones, are supposed to be
heavy root feeders. That is they get most of their
nutrients from within the gravel. Snipping the sticks
into quarters and pushing them into the gravel along the
compass rose, is a great way to supplement their needs.

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 09-Oct-2005 00:55

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thank you so much, you've really helped!