Need Help

[carttman]

I would like to put live plants in my tank but I have a few questions? When I first started my tank I knew nothing about live plants so I went with a all gravel substrate and plastic plants. Now a year and a half later I have decided that I would like to take a shot at live plants. I have already increased the lighting wattage in my tank. I have also decided on medium to low light plants. The main plant I want to get is an Amazon Sword Plant. I will not be adding CO2. I have read that you can have plants as long as you add fertilizer to the tank. Is this true and what kind of fertilizer should I use? My main question is will I be able to grow plants in an all gravel substrate? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[WinterWind]

Fertiziler would obviously be better than gravel, but gravel is also fine. I've been using all gravel for a few years with no problems, and I've grown amazon sword plants. Lighting is the most important aspect to plant growing, so plants aren't only dependent upon the fertilizer. I'd rather go with higher ligthing than with fertizliers. Fertilizers are not an aboslute must, but I'd say go for it if possible.

I've not any experience with fertilizers, but I've heard good things about Eco-Complete and Flourish.

[ergo sum]

I would definitely add some Seachem Florish tabs to the substrate. I have a large Sword plant right now in a 30g it takes up about 1/3 of the space in the tank. It has more than doubled in size since I bought it about a month or so ago. I add trace elements and Flourish excel. I am thinking this plant is going to need a larger home very soon.

[Blinky]

I was in the same boat as you six months ago. My best advice is to do some research first - read up on fertilizer and keeping plants before you dive in, it will help you avoid potential pitfalls :)
There is a sticky at the top of this forum on fertilization with a lot of good info. Many people have tanks with plain gravel or sand - aquatic plants can take fertilizers in through their leaves, so even if the substrate isn't a specialized type for planted tanks they should be fine.