Advice On Substrates

[peter1979]

This is a follow on from my previous post. I have just got a fluval edge for a small free area on my desk at home. I am yet to start a fishless cycle as the filter cartridge was damaged and i am getting a replacement one tuesday. I will start the cycle then, but i would like to get some advice on substrates.
I have plain black gravel in there at the moment, which i bought when i got the tank. I have decided that i want to plant the tank with some java moss and java ferns, maybe some other plants too but not quite decided. I would like some bogwood as a feature and a few small dark rocks. My question is will the black gravel i have be good enough substrate or do i need something more substantial. I cant see how plants can take in gravel, where do the nutrients come from? should i get a substrate of something like eco-complete, or black sand instead?

Do you have to add nutrients for plants?
I am setting up the tank as a tropical one, with the above plants and features, possibly some microrasboras and either small shrimp.

I have decided to upgrade the lighting with leds instead of the halogens that are in there. What sort of algae eaters are suitable for this size tank? are shrimps my only option or are there any cats that would be suited?
Please understand that i am a complete novice. I have been spending almost every sare minute researching about this stuff and am finding it quite overwhelming at the moment, but fascinating!

 

[Gilli]

You can plant in gravel, - the plants get their food from the nitrates in the tank and also you can dose with liquid plant feed or put in plant food tablets near the roots.

Depends on the size of the tank as to what algae eaters would be suitable. I am assuming you know that although some fish are algae eaters it doesn't mean they will eat all the algae that grows in the tank and that it will require supplemental feeding? there is a good link here

Algae Eaters

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Another thing to keep in mind is the both java fern and java moss don't actually go in the substrate, they are attached to rocks and driftwood.

 

[peter1979]

I had read that java fern and java moss are to be attatched to the wood and take hold from there. But what sorts of plants can i plant into the gravel?
Also i guess i am interested most in catfish or shrimp, but i have read that the smalled catfish is the otto and they need to be grouped into 4s which would mean no room for micrrasboras really, shrimps dont take my fancy as much.

 

[waterdrop]

Your black gravel will be just fine for your edge with live plants. The high-tech substrates that get added these days are simply not one of the major things you need to worry about. They are not a primary source of nutrition for the plants at all. They come into play as backup for missed dosings and are more significant in planted tanks that are using a lot more gear than yours will be. A little bit of liquid carbon and a very light dosing of general fertilizer will augment your live plants, which should continue to be "easy low light" plants, like the java fern and java moss you are considering. Can't remember whether the edge gets you into a range of 1.2 watts per gallon or so, but maybe some other edge owners know this aspect of the lighting.

I would not recommend otos for a small tank like that. They need larger amounts of algae to survive and larger numbers of their species around to feel less stressed.

~~waterdrop~~