Plant Question

chainedfaith · 10-25-2007, 02:39 PM

Around two or three months ago, i removed the store-bought pebble rock from my tank and replaced it with white sand that i had bought from another fish store off the providence that i live on.

Since i have been using the sand, i have found it very challenging to keep live plants healthy and well, live. Before using the sand i have had no problems with live plants in the aquarium. I have been occasionally (once a month maybe) using PlantGro which i was told would optimize growth and color in live plants.

Still i am having a lot of problems with the plants, could it be due to the sand i am using?

**Fishfirst** · 10-25-2007, 04:12 PM

yes... the chemical makeup of the sand is VERY VERY important

**JustOneMore20** · 10-25-2007, 04:33 PM

Not only the chemical makeup, but the size of the sand is also important. Really fine sand tends to compact alot easier and can make it hard for the plant roots to grow. Also, people usually don't have a very thick sand bed, so the roots sometimes have no where to go.

Is the sand you are using really fine? Or is it a larger grain, coarser sand?

Also, with gravel, mulm and waste tends to settle deep in the gravel and provides some nutrients to the plant roots. With sand, especially fine sand, the mulm settles on top of the sand bed, so the roots can't get nutrients and the plant must get them from the water column. If you aren't dosing all the right nutrients, the plants may not thrive.

**Damon** · 10-25-2007, 04:42 PM

I would start by removing all dead/dieing leaves from the plants. Then increase your dosing to once a week.

Betta1 · 10-25-2007, 11:48 PM

I just had a random completely uneducated thought, would Mylasian trumpet snails help at all? sifting the sand around and such?

**Damon** · 10-26-2007, 01:59 PM

Yes they would.

chainedfaith · 10-30-2007, 06:36 PM

The sand i am using is very fine, in fact if i had to find a reasonable comparison i'd say sugar. It is very fine, i had pebble in my tank beforehand but when i took a trip to the mainland and to a much bigger pet store just for fish the people in there were really promoting the use of sand. Combined with its fabulous look i was easily drawn in.

I'm already keeping the plants well trimmed from excess and dead leaves.

And i'll try uping the dose to every week or every two weeks. I'm not completely comfortable adding in chemicals to my tank, i'm very new at having an aquarium.

Thanks.

**Damon** · 10-31-2007, 07:03 PM

Do not worry about overdosing. Double the recommended dosage. Your waterchanges will take care of the excess. You'll eventually tune in your fert routine.

10-25-2007, 02:39 PM	#1
chainedfaith Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 20 Posts: 2	Plant Question Around two or three months ago, i removed the store-bought pebble rock from my tank and replaced it with white sand that i had bought from another fish store off the providence that i live on. Since i have been using the sand, i have found it very challenging to keep live plants healthy and well, live. Before using the sand i have had no problems with live plants in the aquarium. I have been occasionally (once a month maybe) using PlantGro which i was told would optimize growth and color in live plants. Still i am having a lot of problems with the plants, could it be due to the sand i am using?

10-25-2007, 04:12 PM	#2
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,541	yes... the chemical makeup of the sand is VERY VERY important __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

10-25-2007, 04:33 PM	#3
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,580	Not only the chemical makeup, but the size of the sand is also important. Really fine sand tends to compact alot easier and can make it hard for the plant roots to grow. Also, people usually don't have a very thick sand bed, so the roots sometimes have no where to go. Is the sand you are using really fine? Or is it a larger grain, coarser sand? Also, with gravel, mulm and waste tends to settle deep in the gravel and provides some nutrients to the plant roots. With sand, especially fine sand, the mulm settles on top of the sand bed, so the roots can't get nutrients and the plant must get them from the water column. If you aren't dosing all the right nutrients, the plants may not thrive. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

10-25-2007, 04:42 PM	#4
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	I would start by removing all dead/dieing leaves from the plants. Then increase your dosing to once a week. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

10-26-2007, 01:59 PM	#6
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Yes they would. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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10-25-2007, 11:48 PM	#5
Betta1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 348	I just had a random completely uneducated thought, would Mylasian trumpet snails help at all? sifting the sand around and such?

10-30-2007, 06:36 PM	#7
chainedfaith Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 20 Posts: 2	The sand i am using is very fine, in fact if i had to find a reasonable comparison i'd say sugar. It is very fine, i had pebble in my tank beforehand but when i took a trip to the mainland and to a much bigger pet store just for fish the people in there were really promoting the use of sand. Combined with its fabulous look i was easily drawn in. I'm already keeping the plants well trimmed from excess and dead leaves. And i'll try uping the dose to every week or every two weeks. I'm not completely comfortable adding in chemicals to my tank, i'm very new at having an aquarium. Thanks.

10-31-2007, 07:03 PM	#8
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Do not worry about overdosing. Double the recommended dosage. Your waterchanges will take care of the excess. You'll eventually tune in your fert routine. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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