New 30 Gal tank no Substrate

Anonymous · 01-05-2004, 02:05 AM

Hi,

I just started my 30 Gal tank and I put some fine gravel, no substrate though.. Should I remove the gravel and put substrate and then gravel..

If the answer is yesl... what is the easiest way to do this.. do I have to empty the tank competely.. I already started a fishless cycle..

Thanks
Omar

Rex Grigg · 01-05-2004, 12:23 PM

Gravel = substrate.

Fishless cycle = waste of time on a planted tank.

Read my FAQ.

Anonymous · 01-05-2004, 01:17 PM

Hi Rex,

You say in your faq that the gravel you find in stores is not good.. well thats what I got.. but the one I got is a bit finer.. its about 3-4mm in diameter.. do you think it will be fine

Rex Grigg · 01-06-2004, 01:50 AM

IMHO that's a bit on the large size. Is it the coated stuff? I hate the coated stuff. If you tell me where you live I might be able to suggest other sources of substrates.

Anonymous · 01-06-2004, 04:08 PM

I am in central jersey

Rex Grigg · 01-06-2004, 05:57 PM

Ok, head down to the BORG and see what kind of sand they carry. Read my FAQ again. If the BORG doesn't have decent sand try an industrial supply house.

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 01-06-2004, 06:19 PM

First of all, gravel can equal substrate. Substrate is simply a nutritional source and what you anchor your plants into. I'm using regular gravel in a few planted tanks with great success. It allows good flow through the roots while still providing an easy anchor for plants.
The only problem, as I see it, with ordinary fine gravel is that it is inert and will provide no nutrient storage capacity. You could supplement your gravel with Laterite, Flourite, Shultz Aquatic Soil (from Lowe's) or Root Tabs. What color is your gravel? That's going to dictate, to a great extent, what substrate enhancer you might want to mix in.

Anonymous · 01-06-2004, 08:03 PM

My gravel is white with a little black dispersed here and there

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 01-06-2004, 08:29 PM

Laterite and Shultz Aquatic Soil are both very light colored (grayish, if anything) so they might be able to mesh well with your existing gravel. Since the tank is new and hasn't even completed cycling, I personally would just tear it down and pick the right color gravel/sand to go with the substrate enhancer or at least layer it on top.
White isn't easy to pull off, it can make fish and plants appear to be washed out, but done right I suppose it can look pretty good.

01-06-2004, 06:19 PM	#7
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	First of all, gravel can equal substrate. Substrate is simply a nutritional source and what you anchor your plants into. I'm using regular gravel in a few planted tanks with great success. It allows good flow through the roots while still providing an easy anchor for plants. The only problem, as I see it, with ordinary fine gravel is that it is inert and will provide no nutrient storage capacity. You could supplement your gravel with Laterite, Flourite, Shultz Aquatic Soil (from Lowe's) or Root Tabs. What color is your gravel? That's going to dictate, to a great extent, what substrate enhancer you might want to mix in. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

01-06-2004, 08:29 PM	#9
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	Laterite and Shultz Aquatic Soil are both very light colored (grayish, if anything) so they might be able to mesh well with your existing gravel. Since the tank is new and hasn't even completed cycling, I personally would just tear it down and pick the right color gravel/sand to go with the substrate enhancer or at least layer it on top. White isn't easy to pull off, it can make fish and plants appear to be washed out, but done right I suppose it can look pretty good. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Reef Tank Conversion - Concerns and Questions	Silent Running	General Planted Tank Discussion	18	10-04-2004 01:14 PM
Converting fish tank to plant tank, without moving fish...	Mori	General Planted Tank Discussion	18	06-10-2004 02:50 PM
Substrate for 50 gallon SEMI Planted tank	Anonymous	Substrate	2	02-20-2004 02:18 AM
Substrate question/looking to switch to planted tank.	Broken	Substrate	3	02-17-2004 08:11 PM
An inexpensive planted tank!	Wasserpest	General Planted Tank Discussion	9	02-15-2004 05:42 PM

01-05-2004, 02:05 AM	#1
Anonymous Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 251	Hi, I just started my 30 Gal tank and I put some fine gravel, no substrate though.. Should I remove the gravel and put substrate and then gravel.. If the answer is yesl... what is the easiest way to do this.. do I have to empty the tank competely.. I already started a fishless cycle.. Thanks Omar

01-05-2004, 12:23 PM	#2
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	Gravel = substrate. Fishless cycle = waste of time on a planted tank. Read my FAQ.

01-05-2004, 01:17 PM	#3
Anonymous Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 251	Hi Rex, You say in your faq that the gravel you find in stores is not good.. well thats what I got.. but the one I got is a bit finer.. its about 3-4mm in diameter.. do you think it will be fine

01-06-2004, 01:50 AM	#4
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	IMHO that's a bit on the large size. Is it the coated stuff? I hate the coated stuff. If you tell me where you live I might be able to suggest other sources of substrates.

01-06-2004, 04:08 PM	#5
Anonymous Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 251	I am in central jersey

01-06-2004, 05:57 PM	#6
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	Ok, head down to the BORG and see what kind of sand they carry. Read my FAQ again. If the BORG doesn't have decent sand try an industrial supply house.

01-06-2004, 08:03 PM	#8
Anonymous Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 251	My gravel is white with a little black dispersed here and there