Question About Keeping Plants

[DanielG]

Hello,

I was wondering if a CO2 injection is required if you only intend to keep a few live plants not a tank full,

Is it ok to add ferts or nothing at all?

Also do you need a double layer substrate with say and inch or 2 of soil and an inch or 2 of sand, or can you have a 100% sand substrate with plants?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[wendywc]

I keep a few plants in both of my tanks without CO2 without any problem. They do and have grown and multiplied for me. I don't use soil either; I have one tank that is gravel and one that is sand. The gravel one seems to do better, but I'm sure that's just because my guppies in there nibble at algae all the time.

 

[MoonstruckMuse]

It really depends on the plants. Some will flourish under even the worst of conditions, and others cannot be kept without intense lighting, regular ferts, and CO2 injection. A 100% sand substrate should be fine for the easier ones - mine love sand over gravel, it lets them root better.

What plants are you looking into? That'll really be the determining factor in how you need to treat your plants.

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

My planted tank has no CO2 injection or fertilizers, and the normal fluorescent lighting for a 29 gallon hood, which isn't much, along with a sand substrate. I've had a couple of plants die off but the majority have lived for a while now under those conditions. I found another hood with a lot more lighting for like $49, so I'll probably invest in that soon just to make sure the plants flourish. That may be something to look into, but either way I think you should be good, or course depending on what plants you choose.