Lead Weights and Feeding

[rowdyates]

Couple of questions, I'm in the process of cycling my tank (fishless, started yesterday) and I've added a few plants already to the tank, should I look to try and feed the plants to make sure they stay healthy or would this interfere with the cycling and if I should feed them whats an appropriate feed.
Secondly, the gravel is very fine gravel and when I removed the lead weight from one of the plants I couldn't get it to stay in the gravel, so I've ended up planting all the plants with the lead still on (there is also foam wrapped round), my question is will this cause any problems, should I look to remove the lead?

Thanks,

Keith

 

[LA321]

ever tried using these?

Anchors

 

[George Farmer]

Couple of questions, I'm in the process of cycling my tank (fishless, started yesterday) and I've added a few plants already to the tank, should I look to try and feed the plants to make sure they stay healthy or would this interfere with the cycling and if I should feed them whats an appropriate feed.
Secondly, the gravel is very fine gravel and when I removed the lead weight from one of the plants I couldn't get it to stay in the gravel, so I've ended up planting all the plants with the lead still on (there is also foam wrapped round), my question is will this cause any problems, should I look to remove the lead?

Thanks,

Keith

[snapback]895248[/snapback]​

Hi Keith

To give you an appropiate answer we need to know a few details; Tank size, lighting type and levels, plant species and quantity.

Generally fertilisation is necessary if you have enough light for the plants to be able to use it. If you are cycling the tank using ammonia then that may provide enough nutrients to start with. If you have "easy" plants then they should do fine without any added ferts. Adding ferts will not mess with your cycle.

Is your substrate plain gravel? Depending on plant type you may need to think about adding some form of nutrient i.e. root tabs, particularly if you have root feeding plants such as Amazon swords and Crypts.

Personally I avoid lead weights completely. Unwrap the lead, seperate each stem and plant using tweezers (preferbly). Space the stems apart a little so light can reach all of the plant. If your gravel is fine then they should stay put. Another idea is to float your plants for a week or so, the plants will produce new roots allowing for easier planting.

Hope this helps.

 

[rowdyates]

Tank is a Juwel Vision 180 (180 litres) with the two standard lamps with reflectors, they are 25 w each lamp. I've put 8 plants in so far 2 amazon swords, 2 bacopia, 1 twisted vallis, 1 cambomba and 2 I'm not sure of. The gravel is from my lfs and is called pink marble but is a light sand colour and is very fine @ 1mm grain size.
If I need to remove the lead, I was thinking when the tank has cycles and I do a big water change to remove them then, hopefully by that time they should have some decent roots?

Cheers,

Keith