summersquash

My plants are ariving tomorow. Do I need to take all the fish and extra decor out to add the plants. I only have gravel in the bottom. Should I get some planting material to go under the gravel? I have planted a few plants in the gravel in the past and they are doing o.k. I just am not sure. I have a 55gal tank, and I really dont't want to take it all apart just to add plants, but at the same time I don't want to waste money on plants if they will not grow.

Help!!!!

btate617

I believe most who are into plants have sand around here. I am not big into plants as I only keep cichlids and they just rip em up. If you have had success with gravel before and you ordered some of the easier species of plants to keep you should be ok.

Brian

summersquash

I wonder if I could add sand into the gravel without emptying my tank, or would it be hard on the fish. I definaltely don't want to take all the water out and risk messing up my cycle. I can get some good sand from our golf course that we use for filling the divits. I just am not sure if it is parasite free. I don't know if it could be washed or not.

SWilkins

I have gravel on the bottoms of my tanks too and my plants seem to be doing well. Of course most of the ones I have are easy to moderate. The ones I do have planted in my tanks are doing well in just the gravel and I have not fertilized either...except for fish poo.

summersquash

That sounds good to me. The easier, the better.

MissMTS

As long as you have low light, easy to grow plants, you should be fine with just gravel. I always like to take my tanks apart to add plants so that I can put them exactly where I want them. You by no means have to though.