Changing plants and gravel in aquarium

[kurly]

I currently have silk plants in my 2.5 mini-bow and after looking at many of the aquarium pictures you all have on this forum I love how real plants look so, I want to change to real plants - something easy like java fern. I also want to change the gravel in my aquarium too if I can because it is just plain ugly. Well, not ugly, just kiddie like. It's the multi-colored gravel that was left over in the bag from what my 8 year old daughter put in her first mini-bow. I just wasn't thinking when I put it in my mini-bow :smad:

Would it be okay to do this seeing how my mini-bow aquarium is only about 6 weeks old? It has already cycled and all the water parameters are where they should be.

Thanks

[Dave66]

You'll have to start from scratch, I'm afraid. Buy a substrate designed for planted tanks. You will need better lights than what came with the tank.
There are several species of aquatic plants you could use in your little tank. Take a look around here: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Dave

[A340]

What I would do is empty the tank into a bucket (water and fish if you have any). Take out the gravel and any decorations. If you want new plants, I suggest buying some flourite for substrate, it is expensive, but you won't need much for a small tank. Buy some real plants and plant them. After that, empty the water and fish back into the tank.

A few tips though, even though some benefical bacteria is in the gravel, you'll still have lots of it in the filter, so no worries about your water parameters/cycle going a muck.

[kurly]

Thanks. I was hoping that I wouldn't mess up my water parameters/cycle by making these changes to my aquarium.

[Rue]

I wouldn't bother with flourite for a 2.5g tank...get a teeny bit of driftwood to tie the java fern to, and you ready to go (might want to soak the wood first to get rid of most of the tannins).

[kurly]

I was thinking about driftwood but not sure where I can buy it. When I do find it, how do I tie the java fern to it? I mean, what do I use to tie it down with?

[Lady Hobbs]

You must mean something like the 80# of blue gravel like I have stored away in 2 huge pillowcases? What was I thinking!

[Bill M.]

Hobbs... U were thinking exactly what I was thinking, it looked nice at teh time, but as you thought about it, it looked fake and ugly... which is why I changed mine....

[A340]

Just a thought, but small planted tanks in Germany are very popular and they look amazing because of their small size yet offer amazing amounts of diversity and complexity.

That is why I mentioned getting the flourite, you may want to go to a LFS and ask them if they have some left over from one of their display tanks that they'll be willing to sell to you or even give to you.

Also, if you really want to get good growing plants, you will (or should) have to change you're lighting system. There are many simple and cheap conversions on the market to help you with this.

[elmer]

A small bag of laterite would do with some plain natural looking gravel of your choice on top.
Java fern, java moss or anubias can all be tied to wood using cotton string. By the time the cotton dissolves the fern will have attached itself to the wood. Or so they say. Or you can just use a normal plant weight and set the fern on top of the wood.
Get a timer ($10 home depot) for your light and set it to around 10 hours a day. I am looking into new light for my tank; this is what I found out: make sure the light is colour 6500k or 10000k or says it is for plants. Make sure the light is directed into the tank - the best is if the fixture has a parabola-shaped reflector to bounce all the light into the tank. For java fern you don't need super bright lights...

[Rue]

...well, unless having a planted tank is your priority...I still wouldn't bother...esp. if you have a little java fern...

...and since the java fern doesn't need a lot of light, stock light should be fine...

You can get a tiny piece of driftwood at most larger petstores or aquarium stores...call ahead and ask...shouldn't be expensive...alternately you can find your own little bit of stick or branch and use that as well...for a 2.5g it shouldn't be hard to find something unique...

[A340]

I found this .....

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

..... it's a 5 gallon tank, but the principle is the same. Also, for a heater you may want to consider one of these .....

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

..... perfect for your little tank.

[Rue]

I dunno...I luv planted tanks...but I don't know that I like very small planted tanks...

I guess you have to decided whether you want plants - with a fish...

Or fish - with a plant...