Regarding my plants..

[Fisher_Zeb]

In my 100G i have live plants with around 3 inches of pea gravel, i did want some nutrient full soil but i couldn't afford it as it was the start up of the tank and all the other materials i had to buy left my wallet dry.

The plants are surviving and growing but not as quick and nice as they could or should be. I do have root tabs underneath which gave abit of boost but the tank still needs more especially to my expectations and needs.

I was wondering if i bought a material such as eco complete could i dig it right into my gravel after begin washed and it will suffice?

Also if there is any recommendations for anything i can do resulting in me not buying a new substrate i am open to! Or any substrates in experience which are cheap and cheerful.

Thank you.

[Trillianne]

If your plants are growing well, without signs of deficiency, and just slow, perhaps not as full as you were hopping... then perhaps the solution is to adjust your expectations.

I think sometimes it can be easy to see all the things wrong with our own personal tanks, because we look at it every day and day to day a plant doesn't grow very fast. But take a vacation for a week or two... and take a look at the same tank and suddenly plants seem to have grown crazy fast! Its really just not seeing all the steps in between.

I do not see any harm in adding one of the planting substrates below your substrate, but if your expectation is along the lines of "plant the seeds October 1 and carve the pumpkins October 31" that's a recipe for unhappiness.