Substrate questions?

[Eglinlotus]

Hey I'm new the the planted aquarium scene and I was wondering if a few of you might be able to help. I have a sand substrate but its not real fine sand will this be ok for Dwarf Hairgrass, Amazon Swords and Jungle Val. I would like the DHG to carpet so I trimmed it down pretty low maybe a 1/4 inch and they are cut into little clusters and spaced about an inch apart from one another in a pattern of 3 rows of 6. Here is the a picture with the substrate. That Delhezi is 4 inches ish just to give you an idea thanks fellas.

 

[Eglinlotus]

Really over 50 people looked at it and you guys dont know?

 

[Egon]

Really over 50 people looked at it and you guys dont know?

We're not really plant folks. This is more about monster fish. The only green in my tank is my del...

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[StevieTheG]

IMO it should be fine as long as no fish in your tank are diggers and can uproot them. Since you aren't going with a substrate specifically for plants you'll have to be on top with supplementing nutrients (sand lacks this). im not sure on the co2 requirements for your plants, too lazy to look up, but that'd be something else you should look into for optimal growth


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[Eglinlotus]

Thanks Stevie. I add the supplements in every week as directed and they seem to be doing fine. I just want to make sure that Dwarf Hairgrass will be fine in it. I really want a carpet of grass in there.

 

[HybridHerp]

Ah, another like me doing a planted tank with bichirs

What size tank and what sort of lighting are you doing? Also, since you are just using sand, I would like to say that you will need to use root tabs and the like to really get good growth. I have dhg in a dirted tank, it really does need the nutrients.

As for other ferts, what are you using and when?

I'm a planted tank guy so I can help out decently well. Also, word of warning, idk of dels dig but my endli, although huge, buried himself time to time and ends up uprooted things. So keep that in mind. My sen, rope, and retro are totally fine with plants however.


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[sexyandiknowit]

A simply sand substrate isn't even close to satisfactory for a planted tank. The sand will start to go anaerobic because the particles aren't porous. It also has no nutrient value. I would recommend seachem flourite, Ada Amazonia or Eco complete. I have used all of these in the past are extremely successful in growing plants like hc, glosso, dhg, and many other hard to grow plants. For the fertilizers i use and recommend this calculator, http://calc.petalphile.com/mobile
It is perfect because it allows you to dose EI with pre made fertilizers.


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[Eglinlotus]

Thanks. So I should redue my substrate? What kind of substrate should I use? I am completely new to plants I'm using Marineland single bright and a 15 watt 65k bulb in a standard 55 gallon. Can i mix in gravel with the sand so there is air pockets or channels for the water to flow? I NEED HELP IM LOST!!!! lol


Edit: I want to make this as easy as possible on myself and my wallet

 

[sexyandiknowit]

It will be easier on you and you'r wallet if you switch over to a planted substrate sooner rather than later. It might be a little more to start out with a plants substrate but you will save yourself a lot of money in the future from dead plants/plant deficiencies , roots tabs, and fertilizers.


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[Eglinlotus]

Ok so here is an update yesterday I took out half of my sand substrate and put 30lbs of seachem flourite red clay, and damn did that make my water cloudy, less than 24 hours later its down to a slight haze but there is residue all over my plants. Is that ok? I wont need root tabs or any other fertilizers will I? I also just bought a new canister filter with a built in UV sterilizer. So it should help me with algea blooms right?