Substrate Question

**fastfly** · 05-08-2008, 05:29 PM

Well, Currently, I just have some normal gravel substrate. It is nothing like the stuff advertised for plants.

My question is, Can I have plants flourish in my tank with any sort of substrate or is this substrate advertised for plants really necessary?

**xoolooxunny** · 05-08-2008, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by fastfly

Well, Currently, I just have some normal gravel substrate. It is nothing like the stuff advertised for plants.

My question is, Can I have plants flourish in my tank with any sort of substrate or is this substrate advertised for plants really necessary?

That all depends on which kinds of plants you want to grow. Do you have any in mind?

**fastfly** · 05-08-2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by xoolooxunny

That all depends on which kinds of plants you want to grow. Do you have any in mind?

The easiest, I assume this would be Java Moss, Micro Sword, Water Sprite... although I am new to aquatic plants.

Any recommendations for plants that thrive is less than optimal substrate?

**Fishalicious** · 05-08-2008, 06:31 PM

If you give your plants the proper nutrients and light you can grow whatever your want in any substrate... I grow mine in just filtersand and in the past in normal gravel without any problems.

**PUNISHER VETTE** · 05-08-2008, 06:36 PM

yeah you can grow in normal gravel. Most of the plant gravels just contain trace elements that the plants can use but if you use fertilizers of your macro/micro/trace elements you can grow anything. And your easy plants don't need much anyway.

Just make sure you have the proper lighting.

and i don't think microsword is a beginner plant but thats just me.

**xoolooxunny** · 05-08-2008, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by fastfly

The easiest, I assume this would be Java Moss, Micro Sword, Water Sprite... although I am new to aquatic plants.

Any recommendations for plants that thrive is less than optimal substrate?

why dont you trade that micro sword in for some ludwigia repens? you'll have better luck with that, or it will be simpler I should say. You still have a variety of choices for your tank, such as anubias varieties, java fern, frog bit, anacharis, and so on.

java moss, java fern, frog bit and anubias dont even need substrate, the others will do fine in the most basic of substrate with little care and no ferts, co2 or expensive lighting.

**fastfly** · 05-13-2008, 11:52 PM

A few days ago I put a Java Fern and two corkscrew vals in my cycling tank. One of the vals basically melted and the other one is doing pretty shabby but is hanging in there. The Java Fern is doing wonderful as expected.

Today I bought some anacharis. About 10 stalks in total. How should I go about planting these. When I bought them, they were in two sets 5 stalks each, with a little 'metal' thing wrapped to keep them together.

I currently planted them with this metal thing still wrapped. Is this the right thing to do? Otherwise they will just be floating plants.

**Minderella83** · 05-14-2008, 12:00 AM

I have had a java fern for about 3 weeks and all I did was put it in the gravel and already it has new leaves on the leaves. Cant believe it was that easy.

**smaug** · 05-14-2008, 12:16 AM

The anachris should be separated from the lead band.If one stem rots they will all rot.Anachris does not root the way other stem plants do,they do have a root like structure at there base that is really just a grasping element.You can cut that bigger lead strip up into smaller wires with a good pair of scissors and wrap a bit around the base of each stem and sink it that way or you can just let them float,they will actually do better just floating.And minderella,your fern will grow even better if the roots are not in the gravel or at least not most of them anyway,ferns do better just tied to something they can root to such as driftwood or rough rocks.