Is Crushed Coral Going To Hinder Plant Growth?

Started a 26g tank and researched everything... and I mean everything... but somehow forgot to research the best substrate for planted tank.

Went with crushed coral and now hoping that choice isn't going to hinder my plant growth.

Currently have Java Fern, Amazon Sword, Anubias, and Dwarfgrass.

Standard light that came in TopFin starter kit. Added Seachem nitrogren tabs into the coral and have a small CO2 set-up as well. Also dosing with Seachem flourish twice a week.

With all of that, will the coral be a good enough substrate - especially from the dwarf grass? Really want that to spread into a carpet.

 

I was told that’s a big no no by the LFS. I ended up swapping out for a sand substrate and using root tans where I planted my plants. My dwarf grass seems to be starting to spread and my other plants have new growth.

 

I was told that’s a big no no by the LFS. I ended up swapping out for a sand substrate and using root tans where I planted my plants. My dwarf grass seems to be starting to spread and my other plants have new growth.

That's what I was afraid of...

I'm past the cycling period (used some seeded material) and have added fish, so changing the substrate would be a major pain. I'll do it if it is the best move in the long-run, but really want to avoid it at all costs

 

You could always set up another tank and take some of the seeded media from this tank and add it to the new filter and use this tank as a rhizome planted tank and use a different substrate in a new tank and use more root and stem plants in there. Your Welcome

 

You could always set up another tank and take some of the seeded media from this tank and add it to the new filter and use this tank as a rhizome planted tank and use a different substrate in a new tank and use more root and stem plants in there. Your Welcome

I'm $400 all-in to this tank already (first tank) so that may be out of the question for now. LOL

 

I'm $400 all-in to this tank already (first tank) so that may be out of the question for now. LOL

Ahhh ok I see. What size tank do you have? Any pics of it to share?

 

Ahhh ok I see. What size tank do you have? Any pics of it to share?

26 gal bowfront. Will get some pics uploaded when I get home

I do know that I need to re-plant my Java Fern and Anubias anyway. I misunderstood about rhizomes. I have them planted in the coral right now. Plan to attach them to other things tonight

 

I do know that I need to re-plant my Java Fern and Anubias anyway. I misunderstood about rhizomes. I have them planted in the coral right now. Plan to attach them to other things tonight

The best way that I have found to hold down rhizome plants are small clear elastics. You can get about 500 for $1 at a dollar store I think their used for braiding hair. It beats trying to tie with thread or fishing line and if your worried about superglue like I was then that is the way to go. and once they establish themselves to whatever u tie em to you can clip em off and their gone.

 

Calcium is a necessary nutrient for both fish and plants. It's a calcium hardness source and tends to raise pH.

If you have water that tends to be extremely soft and tends towards acidic - then probably *some* crushed coral is beneficial. I run it in my tanks as my water is very very soft with almost no hardness at all. Without some limestone, crushed coral, or pH buffer - the pH in my tanks will be at 6 in 2-weeks.

If your water is already hard and runs high pH (~8) out of the tap - then maybe not so much.

I would include some as a part of your substrate - but not AS your substrate.

Also - Sources vary considerably. Use the stuff that's labelled for freshwater tanks. I would definitely rinse it beforehand. A lot of stuff washes out of even the good stuff.

I would stay away from the stuff used in saltwater tanks as it's probably full of salt.

 

I was in the same boat as you but more money into the tank . I put the fish into a 5gal bucket and scooped out most of the crushed coral. I then put in my sand in. My ph was super high at around 8.4-8.5. It would have been easier if I had drained the tank but at 100 gallon I didn’t want to go through that hassle. Still doable. Definitely want to have some aquaclear on hand if switching to sand. I used Black Diamond sand as a cheap option and it clouded my water but aquaclear and my filter took care of that quickly.

To help bring my pH down I have a big piece of wood in the tank now, but that is staining the water a bit .

Edit to add - calcium is a required nutrient but I was told that crushed coral as a substrate will basically kill a lot of plants with pH raising(depending on your water) and too much calcium. If you are keeping cichlids it’s not so much a problem for the fish apparently but others could have issues (so I’m told).