Non-toxic Playsand

[Spader]

is this ok for my tank? today im getting rid of my lame red colored gravel, putting playsand in, and putting my live plants in that instead and so my fish will be happy. is this a good idea? and wont the HOB filter just suck the sand up?

 

[tttnjfttt]

Before begining on any planting endeavor, please do some reaserch on a planted tank, and the things you need, such as C02, lighting, and also the substrate they need. I am not positive, but i *THINK* that some plants have trouble in sand, because the sand can crush their roots.

The HOB filter will not suck the sand up into it, so that will not be a problem.

 

[Spader]

yes, i already have these pants, they are a type of anubias, i dont know the exact, it is green, with small leaves, and what is a rhizome???

 

[tttnjfttt]

Uh, can you use the word in a sentence? I have a feeling it is mispelled...

 

[Spader]

If planted in the gravel the rhizome must not be covered because it will rot.

*in the plant index*

 

[tttnjfttt]

well, i've never heard of it, but here is what dictionary.com says.

http/dictionary.reference.com/search?q=rhizome

 

[Spader]

i think i know what it is, its the round thing at the bottom above the roots

oh and how can i use a gravel vaccumm for sand??

 

[tttnjfttt]

When i clean my sand, i hold the siphon right above the sand, just skimming the surface. Most of the poop will get sucked up, and most of the sand will fall back down. I do loose about a tablespoon of sand per water change, but after a year of doing this, i have never felt the need to add more sand into my tank.

 

[Spader]

ok thanks!

 

[tttnjfttt]

You're welcome. Enjoy the natural looking tank!

 

[SamUK]

Before begining on any planting endeavor, please do some reaserch on a planted tank, and the things you need, such as C02, lighting, and also the substrate they need.

this is another one of those myths i swear.


having real plants is easy. i have an amazon sword thats over a foot tall and about 2 feet wide when spread out and that grew in a 15 gal hex tank with a desk lamp pointed at it.

i kno amazon swords are pretty easy to grow but that was jus an example.


ive never had co2 or special lighting or even a special substrate. i jus wack the plants in and they grow.

 

[qwikimpss]

Planted tanks are actually relatively easy. Get undemanding species, like your Anubias, Java ferns, Java Moss, Amazon Swords (need root tabs as they are heavy root feeders) and hygrophilia species. High lighting and CO2 isn't nescessary for these species of plants and should do just fine with the normal, stock lighting of a tank. CO2 isn't really needed until you have above 1.5 WPG roughly (depends more on the specific set up). As with any aquarium topic, it all boils down to research research research!!

The rhizome of the anubias is the part that the leaves grow up out of and the roots grow down out of. I would suggest attaching it to some bogwood or a stone, tie it down to this with some cotton thread. They really seem to do better.

Be careful with planted tanks tho....they can get ADDICTIVE! Before you know it you'll be out buying $200 lighting systems and fabbing up some DIY CO2 with plans to get a pressurized system!

One more thing, play sand is inert and will not provide your plants with any nutrients. While it looks awesome there are other substrates better suited for planted tanks. I'm not saying a sand-bottomed tank cant be an amazing planted tank at all!! Just giving a lil food for thought.

 

[Spader]

yeah i have Plant Care FIzz Tabs from jungle that i put in once a week so ill put them in while they are in playsand. and i just kinda stuck my plant in the gravel because there arent anyroots just the rhizone, and its about half covered. i fear the plants are rotting but i cant tell. all but one have little white stings about half way up coming out. i hope they'll grow

 

[Spader]

*bump*

 

[SamUK]

yeah i have Plant Care FIzz Tabs from jungle that i put in once a week so ill put them in while they are in playsand. and i just kinda stuck my plant in the gravel because there arent anyroots just the rhizone, and its about half covered. i fear the plants are rotting but i cant tell. all but one have little white stings about half way up coming out. i hope they'll grow

alot of freshly cut plants dont have roots but they will grow pretty quick.


infact the little white hair on all plants but one is a root starting to grow. annoyingly they start growing where they want and not always out the bottom.