Here we go... it's spreading...

**SomethingIsFishy** · 01-16-2013, 05:50 PM

After starting my 5.5 planted tank my other tank looked, well, fake. I decided to go low tech planted in that one too...

The tank is a standard 10 gallon (that's as big as I can go in this apartment... grrr) with a lone dwarf gourami. There was an assortment of plastic plants and fake driftwood. The plastic plants are all gone and have been replaced with a huge bunch of unidentified floating plants (gourami absolutely loves them!) and one java fern from my 5.5. The driftwood will be replaced with real stuff soon and I will be adding more low tech plants.

I am hoping the plants will do ok in regular gravel, changing substrates sounds like a rather daunting task. I will be using liqiud ferts, and possibly root tabs... your thoughts??

Lighting is one 15 watt T8.

Pics coming this afternoon...

**funkman262** · 01-17-2013, 12:26 AM

Many people have success with regular substrate instead of plant-substrate (like soil, ecocomplete, fluorite, etc.), especially in low-tech tanks with low-light plants. I think the only time people have issues with gravel is when trying to grow certain carpeting plants that prefer sand. If you do decide to go with a plant-substrate, I doubt it would be too much hassle to switch it out, but like I said, probably not necessary in your case. Looks like you have a fun project going. You should also post a pic of the 5.5g tank so we can see what inspired you to convert the 10g.

**Strider199** · 01-17-2013, 03:16 AM

Plus 1 to the above post.

Keep it simple with live plants and you'll be satisfied with the results.

As funkman262 said, "You should also post a pic of the 5.5g tank so we can see what inspired you to convert the 10g."
A picture is worth a thousand word.

**vafa** · 01-17-2013, 03:23 AM

And btw if you want to add a soil you could by just adding it to your gravel if its not too high

**Goes to 11!** · 01-17-2013, 03:43 AM

I'd wager you have not done this as you describe it below?

Originally Posted by vafa

And btw if you want to add a soil you could by just adding it to your gravel if its not too high

...If you want a mud puddle

. Do not do this without much research and some plans to cap it with something.

What do you mean by 'regular gravel'? Pea gravel? or the smaller sized aquarium rocks that are sometimes painted like clown vomit? Pics please. Changing substrate in a 10G is nbd btw.

**funkman262** · 01-17-2013, 03:53 AM

Originally Posted by 850R

What do you mean by 'regular gravel'? Pea gravel? or the smaller sized aquarium rocks that are sometimes painted like clown vomit?

Stop hatin' bro. My favorite tank is my blacklight tank using "clown vomit" gravel, various colored marbles, neon plants and glofish.

**mommy1** · 01-17-2013, 03:55 AM

Originally Posted by vafa

And btw if you want to add a soil you could by just adding it to your gravel if its not too high

Mixing gravel and soil will result in a muddy mess. Like 850r says it has to be properly capped and not just mixed in. Also, if you use the wrong kind it could create even more trouble. Vafa, you shouldn't give advice you obviously haven't researched or know from experience.
SomethingIsFishy, aquarium gravel is fine for plants and all you have to do is supplement with ferts. You will have to research the type of plant you decide to buy to see if they are heavy root feeders, which will need root tabs or if they get their nutrients from the water column, which will need liquid ferts.

Funkman... to each their own I suppose.. I had clown vomit gravel in a tank once too... I was 5 years old.

**Goes to 11!** · 01-17-2013, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by funkman262

Stop hatin' bro. My favorite tank is my blacklight tank using "clown vomit" gravel, various colored marbles, neon plants and glofish.

Your defensiveness about your decor choice speaks for itself but for the record:

My statement made no reference to any connotation either positive or negative. It was descriptive and obviously effective since you knew which size gravel I meant.

**SomethingIsFishy** · 01-17-2013, 04:13 AM

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109360
Here's the journal for the 5.5.

I have always liked the "natural" look, so the 10 has a nice lighter brown pea sized smooth gravel. No offence to the clown puke lovers, if that's your thing go for it.

I don't want to have a glass box full of mud, and I don't want to get to crazy with the plant selection, so it looks like the current gravel will work fine. I will use root tabs if I plant any root feeders...

The gourami is so thrilled with his new plants. I'm seeing a lot more of him! It's cool to see him weaving thru the "foliage"...

Pics coming soon... I promise...

**vafa** · 01-17-2013, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by mommy1

Mixing gravel and soil will result in a muddy mess. Like 850r says it has to be properly capped and not just mixed in. Also, if you use the wrong kind it could create even more trouble. Vafa, you shouldn't give advice you obviously haven't researched or know from experience.
SomethingIsFishy, aquarium gravel is fine for plants and all you have to do is supplement with ferts. You will have to research the type of plant you decide to buy to see if they are heavy root feeders, which will need root tabs or if they get their nutrients from the water column, which will need liquid ferts.

Funkman... to each their own I suppose.. I had clown vomit gravel in a tank once too... I was 5 years old.

actully i have done this myself with soil for aquariums
to quick to judge bro