Introduction

[DLConrad]

Hello from NW Ohio
I am a new member and thought I would introduce myself. I have a 55 gallon aquarium that I am going to be tearing completely down, cleaning, and then setting up with Live plants. (I currently have plastic plants.) The few fish that I do have in the tank will go into a 30 gallon that I have. I have been looking at various substrates to put into my tank. I currently have 30 pounds of fluorite red (Seachem) and am planning on getting another 15 pounds of the same. I will probably add some regular gravel to this as well. I have been hesitant to go to live plants, but thought I would give them a try. This leads to some questions that I hope someone can answer for me.
1. What size gravel is best to use with live plants?
2. I have found various sites that offer plants for sale. Has anyone bought
plants on line? Any recommendations?
3. What about tank additives for plant growth and to keep them healthy.
I have seen so many different items for plant health that I am not really
sure what I would need.
After it is set up, I am planning on making it a discus tank

 

[emeraldking]

Hi,

First of all, welcome on aboard...

Don't use gravel which is really, really small. Roots of plants need sufficient nutrition and if the gravel is too small, you'll have a severe problem at a certain point. Everything from 1mm and up would be okay to use.
All of my 60 tanks are planted and the vegetation are growing just fine. In case they need a small boost, I only add carbonized sparkling water (without any sweetening) which you're able to buy at any drugstore/supermarket. I don't add any commercial supplements to these tanks.
Thusfar, I've never ordered plants online. Simply because I like to see a plant for real which I like to purchase. But that's just a personal preference.
I myself dislike plastic plants in a fishtank. To me a fishtank should look natural. So, that means also the plants... But again, also that's a personal preference.

Take care, "S"