Substrate Size

[FishGO]

Hey everyone,
 
As I said in a topic a few days ago im hoping for a successful lightly planted tank, the substrate size I have is 7mm... pretty large. Just wondering if this hinders me at all or makes it more worthwhile to buy some plant substrate to place under it instead of using liquid ferts. Also does anyone have any plant suggestions that will thrive in my 155L tank?
 
Thanks in advance

 

[DrRob]

That's just gravel really. You can grow pretty much anything in gravel, plant substrates are great, but gravel is fine for roots.
 
Personally, I don't view planting substrates as alternatives to water column dosing, but I'm aware that some people do. It does depend a lot on how much you're expecting it to do though. A lightly planted, relatively low tech set up, could last for a long time with just the substrate providing the nutrients, a faster growing high tech system will always need liquids.
 
As for plant suggestions, it really depends on what your lighting plans, water type and aesthetic desires are.

 

[FishGO]

That's just gravel really. You can grow pretty much anything in gravel, plant substrates are great, but gravel is fine for roots.
 
Personally, I don't view planting substrates as alternatives to water column dosing, but I'm aware that some people do. It does depend a lot on how much you're expecting it to do though. A lightly planted, relatively low tech set up, could last for a long time with just the substrate providing the nutrients, a faster growing high tech system will always need liquids.
 
As for plant suggestions, it really depends on what your lighting plans, water type and aesthetic desires are.

 
http/cdn.imghack.se/images/e88f2602f6b70215e1fcbae3fd3da4ab.jpg
 
Something like this would be perfect. How achievable this is without sand and what type of plants and what care/ conditions they require it what I need to know really. (along with some plant names haha)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Anacharis (or elodea or egeria densa) - it goes by different names.  Very easy - dosing liquid carbon will actually HURT this plant.

 
 
Java fern - no substrate necessary for this - in fact, burying it in the substrate will cause it to die.  The rhizome must be kept in the water column, usually tied to some decor.

 
 
 
And the plants on either side are either an Echinodorus or cryptocoryne species of some sort, but I can't ID them.  Someone else will, I'm sure.

 

[FishGO]

Thanks for the help, these plants look ideal for my setup! What do these plants actually require then?
 
I can only apologise for my lack of knowledge and the million questions im asking

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Those two require VERY little.  The java fern will grow just fine in low light and the fish poo in the water will be sufficient nutrients - I have mine in a low tech, low light set-up and they do great.
 
Anacharis for me ended up being less 'lush' than in the pic, and a little thinner stalked and smaller leaves.  To have it really thick you need to add some ferts and have higher light than I do (I think).  The way mine ended up is fine for me, and my cories have liked it enough to lay eggs on the leaves.  
 
 
Not to worry about the questions.  You are far from a million questions, and we don't start charging until you hit two million, so ask away!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Java fern can be planted in the substrate. What you cannot do is place the rhizome on or in the substrate. However, you can push the roots into the substrate and allow the rhizome to be above it and it will do just fine.
 
I would pick another stem over anachris.- when things go wrong it gets messy.
 
Look into Annubias, or better yet check out this link for those plants which are easy to do http/www.tropica.com/en/plants/difficulty/easy.aspx

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thank you for clarifying the rhizome comment, TTA.  I've actually done exactly that - pushed the roots into the substrate, and my java fern are quite healthy.  To even make it easier, I've also glued the java fern to a piece of slate, placed the slate on the substrate and gently sprinkled a bit of sand over the top of the sand.  It also works that way, so it looks like a rooted plant, but is not.

 

[snazy]

Don't be afraid to use specialized planted substrates. It can always help. Some plants(most) prefer taking up their nutritients from the substrate and some prefer from the water column but it generally works both ways.  Some minerals like potassium are believed to be preferred to be by plants in the water column for easier uptake but some like iron are more efficient in the substrate.
So there's no rule. If one can provide everything, it's best.
 
If you can afford soil substrate, look into stuff like ADA Amazonia or TMC nutrasoil. The only thing is that they release ammonia in the first 4-6 weeks, so you'd need heavy planting and no fish until the tank cycles.
 
If you want a very low tech tank, then the plants the guys suggested above are great and beatiful and will forgive a lot of newbie mistakes.
 
Also, in my view 7mm gravel isn't the best for plants. It's too big for some rooted plants to grow properly, but that depends what you'd like to do with the tank.