flourite

[freeless2002]

I am thinking about a 20 gallon planted tank. But I'm not sure if I'm going to do it. This there any problems about putting flourite in under the top layer and then not have live plants? Is it going to mess with my water chem?

[djlen]

The two will mix together in a matter of months. Save yourself the time and just mix a bag of Flourite with, in your case another 10 - 15lbs. of natural plain old aquarium gravel. Rinse them and put down a light dusting of ground peat moss first an lay the mixed substrates in.
I did this in one of my tanks and it looks nice and works well. I used about a 60/40 mix of Flourite/natural gravel. It just lightens up the color a bit.

Len

[RTR]

But what is the point if you are not having live plants? I would not bother.

[freeless2002]

But what is the point if you are not having live plants? I would not bother.


that's kinda how I'm looking at it. I have live plants in a 10. But I'm not sure if I want to have live in the 20. I'm at a should I or should I not point.

I suppose I could add it later if I decided to have plants?

[RTR]

My substrates are quite different in FO in planted. The biggest difference is the amount of substrate - FO tanks have the minimum substrate to cover the bottom glass (depends on tank size and the fish involved, but ~1/2 - 1 1.2" max, with the deep ones being RFUG anyway) so that it can be kept clean. Planted tanks have 3-6". To shift from one to the other I reset with a different substrate. Most of the fish in my unplanted tanks are not suited to plants in any case (herbivores, diggers, etc.). Having a deep substrate in an unplanted tank is for me an upkeep hassle I don't want or need.