Flourite Sand Or No Flourite Sand

I am planning on getting anubias, java fern, java moss, and amazon swords.

I am going to put osmocote plus root tabs under regular black petsmart sand. Should I put a bag of flourite black sand under the regular black sand as well? Or will the osmocote plus and the regular sand be enough?

I also plan to dose flourish complete.

 

In my opinion no, it's too nutrient poor to be worth the amount of money that it costs. Root tabs + maybe something heavier in macros than flourish like Easy Green or Nilocg ThriveC would be a better use of money

 

Thank you. Of these plants, which ones would go in the back, the front, and the sides? I'm assuming amazon sword in the back, but not sure of much else.

 

Thank you. Of these plants, which ones would go in the back, the front, and the sides? I'm assuming amazon sword in the back, but not sure of much else.

It all depends on size, swords are a larger plant so yes the back, java fern and anubias should be attached to hardscape and not planted because their rhizomes tend to rot when covered. Java fern can get pretty big so it could be a focal point plant placed off-center (centering things looks unnatural) and depending on the anubias species's size, same concept. Moss can go anywhere but people usually tie it to hardscape as well

 

I don't know how big of a tank you are talking about, but Amazon swords will outgrow any tank smaller than 40 gallons if you have sufficient lighting. I would recommend looking at the various cryptocoryne species, they come in a way range of sizes and colors and grow well under low light with root tabs.

 

I don't know how big of a tank you are talking about, but Amazon swords will outgrow any tank smaller than 40 gallons if you have sufficient lighting. I would recommend looking at the various cryptocoryne species, they come in a way range of sizes and colors and grow well under low light with root tabs.

My apologies. I have a 40 gallon breeder.

Would crypts be considered background, midground, or foreground? Do they go in substrate or on hardscape?

 

Would crypts be considered background, midground, or foreground? Do they go in substrate or on hardscape?

There are crypts like crypt parva that is a small foreground plant, and some such as crypt wendtiI that would be a good midground plant in a 40 breeder. They are swordlike plants that grow in the substrate.

 

How many osmocote root tabs should suffice for a 40 gal breeder?

 

How many osmocote root tabs should suffice for a 40 gal breeder?

I've always had success with just one per rooted plant, maybe two for a really large plant. If you are looking to carpet the foreground with microsword, pygmy chain sword, or crypt parva I would just place one every few inches. If in doubt add a few extra since osmocote is so cheap. I'm assuming you have the osmocote in 00 capsules

 

Yes, they are in the 00 capsules. I bought 20 of they for a couple dollars just to get started. I will be making my own as time goes on. I want to place some under the substrate when I put my plants in and then start cycling. I have heard that too many can lead to spikes in ammonia and nitrites which is my main concern. I am hoping for a planted tank more on the heavy side, while still being low-tech. Would about 10 of them be too many, and cause the spikes?

 

I haven't seen any ammonia or nitrite spikes using them sparingly like I do. Ten of them in 40 gallons is not much at all, you should be fine.