Qs About New Tank And Plants

[connorsbala]

Hi there! Im currently cycling my juwel rekord 70, only adding water in yesterday(the 30th).The first tank i setup wasnt done to well, without having a test kit, not knowing if it was cycled and having most of my fish being killed. But now all is well Anyway, Would blue and white coloured gravel besuitable for plants and do you need to take the circle thing that keeps the plant all in one bunch off and put it in the gravel? ANd would this gravel be suitable for some corys?

 

[three-fingers]

Its not best for corys, it will grind sown their barbels, corys need pea gravel or sand, which would look much better too IMO . Some plants would grow in it, but its not ideal, but if you cant change the gravel. If you are going to be changing substrate, the best is proper plant substrate, but sand is still better than gravel. You take everything off the bottom of the plant when you get it, sponge, mineral wool and lead weight . Post pics when your planted .

 

[connorsbala]

I just added bogwood today and looks good after soaking it for 3 days!! Ill probs be getting some plants this week!
Erm i did a water test last night and my amonia was 0.4 so not too high, nitrite was 0.25, pH was really high-8.5 so im adding pH reductor. Its exactly the same in my current tank and its not going down!!! Nitrate was 75, so very high and i dont know how to reduce it. Ill be adding some more bacteria in on saturday,which will be a week after i added the first lot of bacteria. After i add the 2nd lot of bacteria (this sat) should i add little bit of ammonia each day? ANd wil the nitrate go down when i do the 25% water change this saturday?
Ill add some pics soon of plants and bogwood!