temptryst

So, I was all set to buy more plants for my tank when I was talking with the store employee and she said she wasn't so sure that the plants I was looking at would actually do well in sand instead of gravel.

Any sand experts out there with the know how on sand tanks?

I need to get some nice plants going so my bettas have more hiding places, but I don't want to spend and have the plants die.

I currently have:
Wisteria (just bought)
Java Fern
Banana Plant
2 Hygrophila polysperma

capekate

HI Temptryst
When I talked with a women that sells a lot of aquarium plants, she told me that the plants would do fine in sand.I have heard it so before too, but suspiciously assume they just want to sell their plants. I have a sand bottom in one of my tanks and love live plants as well and do keep them. Some plants need to adhere to something like a rock, or driftwood, as they need to attach their feelers, those I doubt would do good in sand. Anything with a strong root system may work. But dont forget to account for your lighting system before buying your plants as that would be real important to know.

temptryst

I bought the marineland 28 gallon kit. I've looked at the light bulb and the box.. but there was no information as to the wattage of the light bulb unless I missed something. If anyone knows, that would be really helpful.

Butterfly

The java Fern needs to be attached to wood or rock.
The wisteria, banana plant and Hygro will grow in sand just fine
Carol

temptryst

Thanks Butterfly I've been looking for a piece of wood to put in my tank for the java fern, but I haven't found one I liked yet. I guess I should attach it to one of my rocks temporarily.

pepetj

Your Eclipse comes with two lamps, the info in Marineland homepage says it has F18T8 fluorescents (18W, T-8). That should give you roughly speaking 1.3WPG.

Hygrophila difformis (Wisteria), Nimphoides aquatica (Banana Plant) and Hygrophila polyesperma are likely to have problems with this light level. As far as sand they do well in there given you add fertilizers (Hygrophila species require a lot of nutrients).

Java Fern will adapt well and likely be indiferent to substrate type.

Since you already have the plants, give them a try. Too many variables are in play as far as allowing a plant to adapt or not.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

temptryst

It only has one light not two in the hood.