Adding Substrate

[Moreta]

I set up an extra 20 gallon tank I had with leftover stuff..very little flourite (2in or so), spare light fixture, etc. with fine gravel/sand mix on top to use as a grow out tank for cichlid fry-kind of a last minute thing.

Recently, I've been pruning my big planted tank and putting the cuttings in the smaller tank. Problem is the lack of depth of the substrate, my cuttings aren't rooting very well.

I was wondering can I add (carefully) more substrate on top of the existing-idea being not having to remove the existing plants but burying the lower portion of the plant? I know you can do this to most surface plants.

Thanks in advance for the help

[DIYMatt]

I don't see why you couldn't add some more substrate to your tank. Just be careful that you rinse it well and carefully put it in. Be aware that you may cloud up your tank pretty well adding the substrate. Most stem plants would be fine with the extra substrate where they sit. For Rosette plants like swords, crypts, Barclaya etc, you will probably want to carefully pull them up so the base of the plant is right at the substrate line, IME these plants don't grow very well and can sometimes die if they are buried to deep. IN fact some of my swords actually extend up so the roots are exposed a little below the plant, still firmly rooted, just up a little bit. I hope this helps!

[Moreta]

Okay, I'll try it.

Thanks for the reply, DIYMatt :D