Red Sea Flora Base

[CarloUK]

Hi
 
I want to start planting in my 4 year old fluvial edge 46L.  I went to the shops and purchased a load go Red Sea Flora Base in brown. I flushed it out and my intention is to drain my tank into a big bucket with the fish. Then clean the tank, stick the substrate in, refill with original water and pump/filters then transfer fish in a couple of hours later.
 
I did bucket wash the substrate first rightly or wrongly to reduce clouds, floaters etc.
 
My question is can I add some fine aqua gravel onto to improve the visual experience ?
 
Ta CARLO

 

[hudsona85]

Hi
 
I want to start planting in my 4 year old fluvial edge 46L.  I went to the shops and purchased a load go Red Sea Flora Base in brown. I flushed it out and my intention is to drain my tank into a big bucket with the fish. Then clean the tank, stick the substrate in, refill with original water and pump/filters then transfer fish in a couple of hours later.
 
I did bucket wash the substrate first rightly or wrongly to reduce clouds, floaters etc.
 
My question is can I add some fine aqua gravel onto to improve the visual experience ?
 
Ta CARLO

 
First of all, is there a reason to clean all this just to add plants and substrate??
 
You can replace your substrate but I highly advice against doing the cleaning the tank and such all at one time as you can lose some serious good bacteria to keep your tank healthy. You could end up re-cycling your tank again. Just as you would do your "normal cleaning/water changes" is almost the same way I would do to replace the gravel, a little at a time.
 
I would at least do this:
1)cleaning the first with a water change after
2)wait a week to let the tank reestablish itself
3)test the water to make sure everything is at optimum levels
4)not feed the fish for at least 2 days prior to help reduce stress
5)take water out with the fish and put them in some kind of dark container so they can "sleep" and air the water.
 
There could be some things I am missing that others could help advise you in this process.
 
As far as the aqua gravel mixing with the red sea flora, I do not  think it would be an issue but I could be wrong. I would think if you are to plant the aquarium with the Red Sea Flora Base, it may show on the instructions from the bag if there is a need to wash it and if is recommendations as to what gravel can be added to it?

 

[Akasha72]

nothing to add just lovin the avatar .... oohahaha 

 

[CarloUK]

Ok Gravel now in and so is the fish. Just letting the water clear. I put the original water and left all the pump/filtration untouched. Also stuck back in temporarily the original ornaments so hopefully won't need cycling.
 
I want to start planting with the original LED lighting from the Fluvial Edge 46L.  Want some which grow tall and the carpet ones. Don't know anything about plants. Any recommendations on some else I will take pot luck. I would imagine easy grow ones.
 
Ta CARLO

 

[Akasha72]

nothing to add just lovin the avatar .... oohahaha 

 
My apologies Carlo, I presumed when I saw your avatar that you were a fellow Disturbed fan. Nevermind ... I'll wander off and keep quiet. As you were ...

 

[jag51186]

As far as the plants, if you want carpeting plants to do well, you will need strong lighting and probably CO2 supplementation, as well as liquid fertilizers...just so you know what you are getting into.

 

[CarloUK]

As far as the plants, if you want carpeting plants to do well, you will need strong lighting and probably CO2 supplementation, as well as liquid fertilizers...just so you know what you are getting into.

 
Dam I don't really want to get into that. Isn't there a CO2 liquid from a bottle you tip in every now and then ? If not what plants should I target.
Ta

 

[jag51186]

There is a bottled liquid CO2 product. The problem with this is that if you dose it incorrectly, you can actually poison your fish with it...though I believe this is true of any CO2, even diffused. You will probably need decent lighting and liquid ferts regardless of the plants you have. But, there are low maintenance plants, just none of the nice carpetting ones lol. Some of the lower maintenance ones include, Java Fern, Java Moss, Water Sprite, and Anacharis I believe. Most of these will grow with at least decent lighting, and liquid fertilizers dosed weekly. Sword plants are pretty easy too, and look nice, as do Anubias. Anubias are probably the hardiest, requiring low light.
 
Anyway, I'm no expert, so hopefully someone else chimes in with more experience =)

 

[CarloUK]

There is a bottled liquid CO2 product. The problem with this is that if you dose it incorrectly, you can actually poison your fish with it...though I believe this is true of any CO2, even diffused. You will probably need decent lighting and liquid ferts regardless of the plants you have. But, there are low maintenance plants, just none of the nice carpetting ones lol. Some of the lower maintenance ones include, Java Fern, Java Moss, Water Sprite, and Anacharis I believe. Most of these will grow with at least decent lighting, and liquid fertilizers dosed weekly. Sword plants are pretty easy too, and look nice, as do Anubias. Anubias are probably the hardiest, requiring low light.
 
Anyway, I'm no expert, so hopefully someone else chimes in with more experience =)

Thanks for that. I will go have a read.