Plants in sand...

[Peter McFarlane]

Hey people,

I've only ever kept plants growing/rooted in gravel.

Would their be any issue/problems with growing plants in a sand based tank?

No gravel, just pure sand,.... Will they root/grow ok in this?

Thanks.

Mac

 

[evercl92]

I've had friends that grew plants just fine in sand-only tanks.

The only issues that I see:
1. sand is light, planting can be a pain
2. if not rooted any bottom diggers that play around the plant will uproot it
3. prob want to use fertilizer root tabs to supplement root feeders

 

[kiLLz kC]

here's my plants in a sand only substrate. i also use Seachem Flourish. i have two bass and an aggressive clown knife and have yet to be uprooted. hope it helps

 

[WyldFya]

Sand will be fine as a substrate. It is better if you use one of sand plant substrates though.

 

[Peter McFarlane]

hope it helps

It really did, your tank looks sweet! Loving the dark sand!

Did you get that sand from a LFS or from a regular store?


WyldFya - "Sand will be fine as a substrate. It is better if you use one of sand plant substrates though. "

Wyldfya.... The sand with plant subtrate your talking about.. Can you tell me more about where I can get this? Is it only thru an LFS or ordering from similar online? I need it quick as I have a load of plants arriving in the next few days.. My LFS I really don't like their prices or their attitudes, so would rather go elsewhere?

I like the look of regular silver sand, as I'm planning on having some dark coloured fish so not sure darked sand would suit... But yeah having a heavily planted (+ healthy plant) tank is important to me, so if you think I should give in and go to my LFS and do it I will.

Let me know ok guys

Thanks.

 

[ChrisGray]

sand is probaly not the way to go the roots dont seem to spread well whihch leads to dead plants over time and a pure sand tank is hard to clean, your plants come out of the sand when you vac

 

[WyldFya]

sand is probaly not the way to go the roots dont seem to spread well whihch leads to dead plants over time and a pure sand tank is hard to clean, your plants come out of the sand when you vac

You should not be gravel vacing planted tanks at all.

 

[WyldFya]

It really did, your tank looks sweet! Loving the dark sand!

Did you get that sand from a LFS or from a regular store?


WyldFya - "Sand will be fine as a substrate. It is better if you use one of sand plant substrates though. "

Wyldfya.... The sand with plant subtrate your talking about.. Can you tell me more about where I can get this? Is it only thru an LFS or ordering from similar online? I need it quick as I have a load of plants arriving in the next few days.. My LFS I really don't like their prices or their attitudes, so would rather go elsewhere?

I like the look of regular silver sand, as I'm planning on having some dark coloured fish so not sure darked sand would suit... But yeah having a heavily planted (+ healthy plant) tank is important to me, so if you think I should give in and go to my LFS and do it I will.

Let me know ok guys

Thanks.

Flourite black sand is one option, then there are things like eco complete, and ADA aquasoil. Sand is actually a very good substrate for plants, as the roots have an easier time growing, and can root in quite a bit better in sand than gravel. The biggest down fall of sand is the lack of nutrients, but this can be fixed with a light laterite layer, and root tabs.

 

[Taboojen]

I use the Fluorite Black Sand also for my planted tank and I love it. The sand grains are made of the same material used in the Fluorite substrates they sell at the LFS, but just at a finer grain. It is easy to plant in because its pretty soft, so i would think the plant roots will be fine.

The drawback is the cost, as a bag seems to run about $24-28 around here. You might be able to find it cheaper online if you like the dark sand. Else, the other option WyldFya mentioned - w/ with a light laterite layer and normal inert sand may be relatively cost efficient.

Hey people,

I've only ever kept plants growing/rooted in gravel.

Would their be any issue/problems with growing plants in a sand based tank?

No gravel, just pure sand,.... Will they root/grow ok in this?

Thanks.

Mac

 

[kiLLz kC]

i got two bags for 50 bucks. then two days later i set up a different tank and used pool filter sand which costed 7 bucks.

i do like the darker substrate but i like the pool filter sand price. i haven't planted anything in that tank as it houses a juvie dovii that's always aquascaping.