Will my gravel work for live plants???

[Fishman007]

Ive been using plastic plants and am considering real ones. Will my gravel work for live plants?

 

[Fishman007]

Heres a better pic of the gravel

 

[jwh0818]

Yes it will work. Ive used it many times no problem. I would recommend using root tabs if your gonna use gravel

 

[Fishman007]

Ok thanks

 

[Rivercats]

You only need root tabs if you plant swords, crypts, or bulb plants as these are heavy root feeders. Most all other plants take nutrients from the water.

What will determine what type of plants you can grow will be your lighting not your gravel. The only plants that wouldn't work in that type gravel would be carpeting plants which you probably wouldn't want to have anyway.

 

[Fishman007]

How do you care for the plants? I was thinking about amazon swords?

 

[Rivercats]

What type lighting and bulbs do you have? That will determine what plants you can grow. Plants need light, CO2, and ferts to grow, those are their basic needs. But no use talking about plants until we know your lighting.

 

[Fishman007]

Ok im not at my house but i will tell you later tonight

 

[Rivercats]

That's fine.

 

[BBradbury]

Hello Fish...

Your gravel looks like it's roughly pea-sized. It's as good as anything, really. It's easy to clean, it allows good water movement, so that any plants you put into it will get the proper nutrients as the water moves through the gravel. The polished gravel is good and safe for any bottom feeding fish.

Good choice.

B

 

[Fishman007]

I just put some Anubis nana in my tank and im gonna get some java fern tommarow

 

[Rivercats]

They are fine in low light tanks but do best IMO if attached to driftwood.

 

[Fishman007]

Heres my anubis

 

[Fishman007]

I have a 20W T8 bulb

 

[Fishman007]

Is that good? Im new to this

 

[jwh0818]

Is that good? Im new to this

I would go for a bit higher. You will appreciate the 6500k color temp bulb because it makes your tank look whiteish instead of yellow

 

[Fishman007]

How much is it???

 

[Zimmanski]

You'll want to take the rhizome out of the substrate (the horizontal green root), if left buried it may rot and kill the plant. Its best attached to wood or decorations or at least only the actual roots planted in substrates.

 

[jwh0818]

How much is it???

It shouldn't be no more that 10 $ what size bulb do you have in inches

 

[Fishman007]

Well my tanks 20 gallon and its 24' or 61 cm