Okay To Use Just Sand As Substrate For Plants?

[Winterlily]

I'll be setting up my very first planted tank this weekend (a 5.5 gallon with one male Betta in it) and will be using sand as substrate. Is this okay or do I have to add something under it? I'd prefer to avoid the issues of mucking up the tank every time a plant is uprooted or whatever so don't, I think, want to use soil. What's the best way to proceed here? something (what?) under the sand, or just the sand and add whatever the plants need afterward?? Thanks!

 

[Geoff1991]

I just use play sand and dose ferts/co2 and my plants do fine.

 

[Winterlily]

What about without the co2 dosing? At the moment, I'm just looking to have some low light plants in a few 5.5 gallon tanks - never dealt with live plants before and definitely, at this point, don't want to/can't afford to get into the whole co2 infusion thing. Perhaps in some months when everything is up and running smoothly - including a new 55 gallon just being set up now - I will want to look at having a "better" planted tank, a more proper one with co2 etc, but right now I really don't. Can I still grow low light plants in sand - without co2? Will a layer of something else (eco-complete or something?) help with the fact that I won't be adding co2 in? Or is that unnecessary?

 

[chesterscot]

i have a tank with sand no co2 or liquid ferts just a few root tabs and my java fern/ moss/ riccia and swords are ok they just dont grow as quick but it can be done if you choose your plants carefully
scot

 

[lljdma06]

What about without the co2 dosing? At the moment, I'm just looking to have some low light plants in a few 5.5 gallon tanks - never dealt with live plants before and definitely, at this point, don't want to/can't afford to get into the whole co2 infusion thing. Perhaps in some months when everything is up and running smoothly - including a new 55 gallon just being set up now - I will want to look at having a "better" planted tank, a more proper one with co2 etc, but right now I really don't. Can I still grow low light plants in sand - without co2? Will a layer of something else (eco-complete or something?) help with the fact that I won't be adding co2 in? Or is that unnecessary?

A planted tank with CO2 isn't a "better" or "more proper" tank than a tank without. It's just different. Depending on your lighting, you should be able to keep cryptocorynes, java fern, java moss, most mosses, and anubias in your betta tank without much effort. Dose a good fertiliser (TPN+ for example), be up on you water changes and you'll be good to go with a very proper planted tank with minimum effort.

In your 55g, if you stay at about 1-1.5WPG, you can grow some nice plants without CO2 either, especially if you stick with plants that do not mind a wide range of lighting conditions.

Of course injecting CO2 would give you more options and you can always decide to add it later once you get the hang of growing plants without it. CO2 injection opens the door to more fragile species, lawncovers, and will give you faster growth rates. I personally don't like the hassle of constant pruning and having to take down scapes every 3-5 months, so I opt for tanks that take much longer to develop, so I prefer slower-growing, non-CO2 tanks.

It is up to you really. Just throw a few tough plants in your betta tank and see how you like it.

 

[Winterlily]

Ahhh good, I understand much better now. Thank you! Sorry about the "better" and "more proper" thing - honestly I know nothing at ALL about live plants except the stuff I've read here in the last few days, after I decided to do live plants in at least one of my betta's tanks because he's forever ripping his fins even on silk plants (which insist on using plastic for "shoots" and "buds" etc ). I'm awfully glad to read that I can do this without co2 etc and, pardon the stupid pun, get my feet wet before jumping in completely. My guess is I'm going to love it and will be going the co2 way some months from now, but thank you for clearing it up and letting me know I don't have to.

Depending on your lighting, you should be able to keep cryptocorynes, java fern, java moss, most mosses, and anubias in your betta tank without much effort.

Okay, the small tanks, which are 5 1/2 gallons, have regular ol' fluorescent bulbs that are, I think, 14W. That should be okay for those plants mentioned, yes? How about Wisteria - that okay with that light? Love that plant.

The 55 gallon has only the one fluorescent bulb the light strip came with and is probably totally unsuitable to anything - it's only 32W and probably won't handle anything more. And yes, it's just one bulb. Any suggestions?

BTW.. I keep reading about "root tabs" - what is that?

And, how deep should the sand be optimally?

 

[Geoff1991]

Root tabs are for root feeding plants that aren't in a nutrient rich substrate. Theyre like tablets/capsules that you place in the substrate around the plant and it allows the plants to draw nutrients from its roots.

Id only bother with root tabs if you start getting deficiencies. But you should be fine. Ive got amazon swords which are apparently root feeders planted in regular play sand and theyre fine without root tabs.

In my personal opinion, you can do fine without a nutrient rich substrate. It just helps.

In all honesty id have gone for one if id have thought when i put my sand in, but i didnt think and to be honest im not that bothered. My plants are growing fine.

 

[Winterlily]

Thanks Geoff. If you had put a special substrate in under your sand, what would you have gone for?

 

[Geoff1991]

Id probably have started a thread and asked the experts... *shrugs*

 

[Winterlily]

Okay - will do!