Can You Put Plants In A Tank Of Sand

[black molly3]

i was wonderin im getting a new tank and for the gravel im using sand which got
me thinking. could i have plants in it. al what will be in my tsnk is a green spotted puffer

 

[InaneCathode]

How big is the tank? A GSP is a brackish fish, and you'll need to get brackish plants

 

[Fighterfish]

Yes sand is fine but GSP our brackish.

 

[black molly3]

i know GSP are brackish fish. what are suitable plants (brackish) for my tank.
its only a small one about 2 ft.

 

[DarkEntity]

You do realise that a GSP should have no less than a 30 Gall Tank since they grow to about 7 Inches at maturity.

Also worth noting that before you get yourself a GSP you need to have a supply of Snails etc to feed him on.

 

[black molly3]

as a matter of fact yes i have got a suply of snails theres about 69 (i counted yesterday) and
they have had 4 batches of eggs so far.
its 32 uk gal my tank so it should be ok im only getting one because iv read that they can become
territorial. Also i need to feed them live food and cockels to keep their teeth small.
dont think im just geting a GSP because i like them i have been researching them for about 3 weeks now
and hae 4 pages of useful information on them. Im not like other people just getting fish what they have no idea on keeping.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Sand is not advisable for growing plants.
Go for fine gravel and an under gravel minaral ( cost around £8,)if you are going to grow stem planst.Or feed regularly with a liquid fertilizer. You will spend less on buying replacement plants if you have under gravel mineral and/or liquid fertilizer. Go for Jafa furns and moss's and anubias, these will tolorate salt to a cirtan extent.Not sure my self what stem planst will grow in brackish water.

Go to the Plant forum.

 

[black molly3]

i went to my LFS to day and the tank im getting the pump sucks from under the substrate(what is this type of filter called) and he advised me to get gravel as it would be terrably hard cleaning out the tank for water changes.
thanks
black molly3

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Its under gravel filtration. Works best with gravel. You have to keep it relatively clean with Vac siphons and its no good for plants. The plants restrict the water flow so making it defective. You would be better off with an external or internal filter, easy to maintain and more efficient. Then you can have an under gravel mineral with normal pea gravel over the top and have a much more successfully tank.

 

[Nina]

Sorry to disagree with you but I have plants in a tank with a sand substrate and they grow fine.

Just make sure you lead weight them down until they root properly and then they are fine.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Ill agree to dissagree. I couldnt of got a full page tank shot in PFK articl writen by George Farmer ( Living Art ) using sand. Im a seriuos plant grower and sand is the not even on the shoping list.

 

[Araxen]

I have plants in my sand and I've had no problems. Just depends on what kind of plants you use and what you are feeding them. I have alot of swords and I've been using root tabs and flourish excel and they grow at a decent rate.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I have plants in my sand and I've had no problems. Just depends on what kind of plants you use and what you are feeding them. I have alot of swords and I've been using root tabs and flourish excel and they grow at a decent rate.

Agreed.
Alot of people dont even concider feeding thier plants either with liquid or root tabs. At the end of the day the fish shop is rubbing thier hands for the amount of time people go back to buy new plants.

Plain sand or garavel holds very little ( none ) bennefit for plants, maybe a few months down the line detritus will supply a minimal amount of food for plants but only for the hardyest.

Gravel will also have a biological menefit too, better water circulation through the gravel will keep nitrafieing bacteria health, sand will not have such a benefit, or not any where near the same extent any way.
Sand also tend to get anerobic too, wich can be very toxic.

The only time i would use sand is in a decorative scene in a nature aquarium, this will only be 50% or less of the total substrate.

 

[black molly3]

i have also an internal filter to suck up the floating pieces of crap lol. i no an under substrate filter is just pileing the work up but i am willing to spend the time on it. after i have looked after puffers i may be interested
in looking after clown fish. i am getting gravel no since if i would have sand i would need something to keep the sand
from being sucked in the under substrate filter(cant remember what the manager of the lfs said lol)
thanks