michaelg210
Aquarium Advice Activist
I have a small tank, 5.5 gallon with a single betta fish.
I have given up on those drop in bulbs, which almost never grow.
I was looking at buying some live plants, which are supposed to be guaranteed snail free... however, do not have the supporting substrate(?)...
I have seen large bags of substrate with beneficial bacteria in pet stores, but they are much larger than I would need. Cannot seem to find them in a smaller size.
1. How much and what type would I need on the bottom of the tank, I am thinking like perhaps at least 1/2 inch of the very fine gravel type so the plants could anchor themselves and survive. Also I have the large marble looking (smooth) gravel presently, and was thinking of putting it back on top of the substrate... (I call it substrate because I assume it is the soil like gravel / material that lines the tank bottom).
2. Will I require lighting? It would have to be a stand alone light, as my tank does not have a hood, and I have not seen one that fits a 5.5 G tank. Or are there plants that do well without lighting?
3. What type of plants would be best, or does it matter?
4. Would I need to add anything to the water for plant food, and does it affect the fish or is the fish waste food itself for the plants?
I have given up on those drop in bulbs, which almost never grow.
I was looking at buying some live plants, which are supposed to be guaranteed snail free... however, do not have the supporting substrate(?)...
I have seen large bags of substrate with beneficial bacteria in pet stores, but they are much larger than I would need. Cannot seem to find them in a smaller size.
1. How much and what type would I need on the bottom of the tank, I am thinking like perhaps at least 1/2 inch of the very fine gravel type so the plants could anchor themselves and survive. Also I have the large marble looking (smooth) gravel presently, and was thinking of putting it back on top of the substrate... (I call it substrate because I assume it is the soil like gravel / material that lines the tank bottom).
2. Will I require lighting? It would have to be a stand alone light, as my tank does not have a hood, and I have not seen one that fits a 5.5 G tank. Or are there plants that do well without lighting?
3. What type of plants would be best, or does it matter?
4. Would I need to add anything to the water for plant food, and does it affect the fish or is the fish waste food itself for the plants?