inari

HEy guys,

I have a question; I'm starting a 5 gallon planted tank i have 1 stalk of bamboo and a few amazon swords, my issue is lighting and substrate, I'll be posting the lighting questions over there so please any knowledge will be appreciated in both places. I want to find that iron gravel substrate it's a dark red adds iron to ur substrate (go figure right?) I don't know what the official name of that is so i can look it up any help would be great.

Inari

xVitox

ummm im thinking either eco complete or flourite...i have flourite and it works great
bamboo is not an underwater plant actually but it is most commonly sold as one

inari

this is about the only way i've ever been able to keep it alive. I have always known that Bamboo is more of terrestrial plant but hey if the odd thing works, deep it going right? thanks for the name now i know what to ask the LFS for lol

~Inari

MissMTS

Hi Inari,

Just a tip on your sword plants....

They will grow way to big for your 5 gallon tank. I would maybe try some crypts or java fern instead. 5 gallons is a small space, but if you aquascape it well, you can put quite a few plants in there. You just have to pick some smaller, slower growing ones

AmongthePuffers

I would agree that eco complete or flourite are both good plant substrates.

inari

actually the swords are called argentinea swords (weird right) they look just like amazons but they don't seem to grow as tall. I haven't gotten that substrate yet, but I've been fertilzing and feeding the cycle fish flakes, until i get someone to play in the plants, and they seem to be doing alright with the lighting, I want to get some iron in there so that they have it not to mention it helps keep your water from turning hugely acidic, I noticed that was a minor issue when I have Getsy. Anyway Thanks again, and I would go look for crypts, but the issue is all the LFS in the area either don't sell crypts or I've noticed pond snails on them and I really don't want to fight pond snails as well. anyway thanks guys

Inari

Neji

You can use normal substrate for plants I just use large gravel in my tank, and I just dig the roots into the gravel and then cover the roots up and then they stay there

inari

Thanks Neji,

The big thing is I like one the look of the florite and two it adds iron to my water which my plants love me for. thanks tho I already knew that you could do that, that's what they are in now lol

~Inari