Anaerobic Bacteria

[§tudz]

Hi,

I setup a tank (none planted, tank2) a few months ago now, the substrate it a mix of sand and small quartz gravel.

About a month or so ago I noticed the substrate becoming very black, under the surface, and found out it was becoming anaerobic.

I have another tank (planted, tank1) which is planeted, it has a substrate of a layer of Tetra CompleteSubstrate and then a layer of sand. There is NO substrate heating, and I dont add any food to the tank, well not a lot mabe one every few months. I also have a CO2 injection kit.

The plants are thriving and getting out of control so I clip them back from time to time. its not a great looking tank but it works well.

When I was reading some material about planted tanks, I saw that some suggested they would prefer anaerobic substrate in a planted tank, as the plants feed off the anaerobic bacteria. So having read this I thought well lets give it a go.

I have two large plants, I think it is some form of amazon sword, which were getting too big top both be in the tank, and one of the plants had produced a new plant. I divide the new plant and the old plant and took the other smaller plant and placed them in tank2. I also added some of the dwarf amazon swords, as we;; as a few little sprigs of some other plant that is in the tank.

They plants are doing really well, I have a normal light in tank2, where as tank1 has two lights one arcadia tropical and one arcadia... erm... summit else,

now, has anyone else tried this? and what were your experiences. So far tank2 has no algae, but give it time, I probably just jinxed myself.

I apologise for not knowing the names of the plants, I did when I got them, just cant remember now

 

[BigIan]

plants do thrive in anerobid decay and do help to prevent it in a small way,

it is however very dangerous to fish, so i star my sand every week to make sure it dosent happen

 

[§tudz]

plants do thrive in anerobid decay and do help to prevent it in a small way,

it is however very dangerous to fish, so i star my sand every week to make sure it dosent happen

Well the bacteria seems to be slowly receeding, so lookslike the plants are munching on it.
Once it has all gone, would you think the plants would then start to encounter problems?

 

[BigIan]

nope i try to prevent it building up in my tank by stiring the sand every time i do a water change, and my plants are fit and healthy (apart from the bloody snails ) if i were you i`d give it a little stir,

 

[§tudz]

nope i try to prevent it building up in my tank by stiring the sand every time i do a water change, and my plants are fit and healthy (apart from the bloody snails ) if i were you i`d give it a little stir,

yeah I'll give it a stir mate

as for snails my main planted tank, (tank01) had a snail problem I bought a clown loach and he kept it under control until he got too big, now I have a chain loach, used to be two , that look after the snails, they haven't been wiped out, they are there but in minimum quantity, like onlt 5-10 at any time.

back to the plants
without a soil substrate the plants will prob die right?

 

[BigIan]

define "soil substrate"

I have myu plants in just plain sand and they thrive.....

i pop a couple of root tabs under some of the plants every now and again. but thats it

 

[§tudz]

define "soil substrate"

I have myu plants in just plain sand and they thrive.....

i pop a couple of root tabs under some of the plants every now and again. but thats it

ah! now thats a thought, I ment by soil substrate, as in erm.. soil, or something like Tetra's CompleteSubstrate.

When I get paid I think I will invest in some food tablet for them and hopefully they will do great.

would this work in a tank that has gravel as its Substrate?