[apro]

Hi there guys I have a standard 16 G tank with normal gravel with a 5 cms thickness and a DIY CO2 unit and a 36 W daylight PC with a white reflector unit in built and want to turn this around into a planted heaven (but its impossible to dig up the tanks as I have few fishes in the tank) so what scan a possibel solution (substrate fertiliser e.g. JBL 7 Balls) . Help appreciated especially from the gurus.

Cheers ppl.

 

[Solace]

My 29gal has just crushed aquarium gravel. Its nothing special.

With everything else that you have, you should do well I would think. I added some flourish root tabs near my amazon sword and by my dwarf sag / glosso, and now they are exploding with growth.

 

[esarkipato]

Help appreciated especially from the gurus.

What are you trying to do, scare away the timid?

I'm no guru, but most plant will grow just fine with fertlizers added to teh water column. Substrate ferts are *never necessary* but helpful for crypts, swords, and other root feeders.

 

[apro]

can you illustrate what you mean by most plants, cause I have red ludwigias, swords, lilys, and vallis and out of all that only vallis are doing well, what do you guys think about hair grass ?

 

[scolley]

Apro - we've got "guru"s here that aren't really (I'm one) and plenty of other people like Ernie that don't appear to be one yet from their post count, but really might be. So IMO, don't put too much stock in the titles.

I've got zero experience with gravel only, but just because you have fish in the tank doesn't mean you can't add substrate. Eco-complete is expensive, but it pours beautifully underwater. Adding it won't bother your fish at all. Maybe some other substrates pour underwater too. Just keep in mind that if you do add substrate, after it mixes up a bit with the gravel, the gravel will make its way to the top, burying the substrate, which might be just what you want.

 

[cbennett]

I got one tank with 100% fluorite and one tank with standard black gravel with a bit of laterite on the bottom. Both do really well - other things like light and availability of CO2 seem to be bigger factors in whether the plants are successful or not. Stem-type plants are not going to get their nutrients out of the substrate but rooted plants like crypts, swords, lotus, etc. will appreciate nutrients in the substrate. Of course, a bunch of mulm in the gravel will accomplish that too. Only if your light, CO2 and fertilizer regimens are in order and nutrient deficiencies are still present, would I worry about changing your substrate.

 

[apro]

Hi guys I have 36W daylight PC with a built in white reflector with hagen CO2 and weekly dose of tetra plantamin and am experimenting with JBL 7 balls, now from my observation the vallis are thriving, other than that my swords, lilies, ludwigias are not doing well though occasionaly both the swords and the ludwigias bubble constantly now do you guys think my light is enough (as the plants bubble) and should put some JBL balls underneath the lilies swords and ludwigias.

On a different note scolley when I meant gurus, I meant experienced guys not counting by the post counts.

Cheers, Anyways.