Kind of new, want something more than gravel??

[woodyblueeyes]

Hey there,

I have a 5 gal setup at my desk at work, and I'm wanting to fill it more with plants. I have one red wendth and a white sprite, and a java fern in there now, but I want to get more and fill the tank with plants for a fuller look, and for my betta to wander around in...

my question is this. WHAT can I use in the way of "sand"??? or something else besides gravel to help the plants grow? I have kept my red wendth in it's pot but isn't that going to stunt it's growth?

I need some help here, not really versed on using anything other than gravel...but I want to learn...yet I want to do it correctly for the benefit of my plants, and the fishes that will inhabit the area??

Woody

[woodyblueeyes]

OH, I also have four "bulbs" that I put in the tank from the local Wally World...don't remember the name of them, but they're supposed to sprout vines and white/yellow flowers?? Anyone familiar with these?

Right now they're brown bulbs, but I see a sprout coming out of two of them already...?

W:p :p D Y

[cpr4cpu]

light will be a problem for your plants.
Look for plants that have low light requirements. Jave fern, java moss, anacharis, and most cryptocorynes (Red Wendtii too) all should do okay in low light.

As for substrate, sand will eventually compact and become anearobic which would not be the best condition for the plants roots. Rather, consider estes bits of nutmeg (tiny natural color gravel) and mixing in laterite, or you can buy flourite which is iron rich and requires no additional supplements in most cases. I have recently started using Carb-Sea's "Eco-Complete" substrate and I likeit very much. It is black and looks a lot like activated carbon, but it too is rich in plant nutrients and iron.

About the pot, you should remove the plant and root from the pot and rock wool packing. If you use an undergravel filter, you can always get a small unglazed clay pot and plant the plant in there, you can even use untreated potting soil, or peat moss to pack the pot, so long as you put a decent layer of gravel to prevent the soil from leaching into the water column.