Want Some Plants But Unsure.

[jpeterson]

Hey guys, I want some plants for my tank but I dunno what I would need to stand them in so their roots grow. I know nothing at all about plants for aquariums and would like some advise on what to get and how to maintain them!

 

[lljdma06]

Hey guys, I want some plants for my tank but I dunno what I would need to stand them in so their roots grow. I know nothing at all about plants for aquariums and would like some advise on what to get and how to maintain them!

For most types of plants, with the exception of rhizome plants (anubias, java fern, moses) and floating plants (duckweed, salvinia, amazon frogbit), you bury the roots or parts of the stem into a substrate.

Common substrates include gravel, sand, flourite, Eco-complete, aqua soil, even kitty litter.

If you want to learn more about keeping a planted tank, take a look at PARC.

Welcome to Planted.

 

[jpeterson]

How deep would the gravel have to be? I have about an inch deep at the min. My tank is only 10.5 gallons (48 litres) and i also want fish in there. I though plants would make it more natural and friendly for the fish.

 

[lljdma06]

How deep would the gravel have to be? I have about an inch deep at the min. My tank is only 10.5 gallons (48 litres) and i also want fish in there. I though plants would make it more natural and friendly for the fish.

Usually 1.5-3 inches depending on what is being grown. Some plants like Amazon swords, aponogetons, and cryptocorynes have large root structures and need a deeper substrate. The smaller plants do not need so much. It depends. I tend to stay at around 1.5-3 inches with less substrate in the front and more in the back, but that doesn't really matter.

llj

 

[jpeterson]

Ummm i will just use artificial for the moment until i have a bigger tank. Once i get a bigger tank i will defiantly be asking some questions.