Should I Add A Substrate?

[ellena]

I have a 5.7 gall hex tank which housed a betta until yesterday when he died It has a 9w tube on for about 7 hours a day and sand substrate.
I've had an amazon sword, a small crypt and a moss ball in there for a while and they were doing OK since I started using root tabs.
I recently bought elodea, cabomba and wisteria to try and combat fluctuating ammonia levels. Now he's died, I'm thinking it's a good time to have a revamp of the tank before I get another.
So, if I added substrate would that mean I didn't have to use root tabs? They're not cheap and 1 per plant would cost a fortune! Is there much to choose between them?
I've also heard about using cat litter. Am I right in thinking that doesn't contain nutrients, but holds on to them, releasing them slowly to the plants? So you'd have to dose fertilisers too?
Thanks for any tips on this

 

[Truck]

I have a 5.7 gall hex tank which housed a betta until yesterday when he died It has a 9w tube on for about 7 hours a day and sand substrate.
I've had an amazon sword, a small crypt and a moss ball in there for a while and they were doing OK since I started using root tabs.
I recently bought elodea, cabomba and wisteria to try and combat fluctuating ammonia levels. Now he's died, I'm thinking it's a good time to have a revamp of the tank before I get another.
So, if I added substrate would that mean I didn't have to use root tabs? They're not cheap and 1 per plant would cost a fortune! Is there much to choose between them?
I've also heard about using cat litter. Am I right in thinking that doesn't contain nutrients, but holds on to them, releasing them slowly to the plants? So you'd have to dose fertilisers too?
Thanks for any tips on this

i think cat litter would be a good choice.
you are correct about it taking on nutrients and releasing them slowly. i would cap the cat litter with sand.
And then i recommend grabbing a bottle of TPN+ and dosing 1ml per day.
i would plant it out and then do a fish in cycle...to keep ammonia and algae down 80% water changes every 24 hours will be necessary.

 

[ellena]

Thanks truck The filter should stay as cycled as it ever was as he only died yesterday and I dosed ammonia up to 2ppm this morning. I plan to plant it, add a betta, then keep a close eye on the stats and do water changes as necessary. I've been doing that for the past 14 weeks for his fish in cycle anyway!
What's TPN short for?
And do I remember reading somewhere that you should put sand/gravel around the edges so your substrate doesn't come right up to the glass so you can see layers?

 

[Truck]

tropica plant nutrition +

seeing as its already cycled things should be okay

 

[ellena]

Great Is it just the cheap fuller's earth cat litter?

 

[Truck]

Great Is it just the cheap fuller's earth cat litter?

just go to pets at home and buy a bag of 100% pure clay cat litter for £1.68