Ground cover and Vacumming

[tara brown]

Hi All,

I have a 30 gallon tall with about 7 different kinds of plants. I have 40 watts of lights, one 20watt flora glow and one 20watt aqua glow. I have a mixed substrate of medium gravel and fine black gravel specially designed for plant growth although i can't remember exactly what it is called. I fertilize once per week with a liquid fertilizer.

I would really love a heavily planted tank. I have a couple questions:

Right now there is some open gravel space around the tank but whenever i vacuum it seems to disrupt the plant roots. I have read on this forum that i should not vacuum at all...is this true? Not vacuuming kind of scares me...

Also, i would love to get more ground cover going. What is best for ground cover in low light?

What else should i be doing to get a really beautiful planted tank?

Thanks!

[Sammie7]

I'd say java moss is the best ground cover, because it will work in most if not all situations. When you are vacuuming just try to wave the vac above the substrate to disturb the settled debris and then suck it up. I have java moss as a foreground in my 10 gallon and I really like it.

[happybob59]

taht was done with java moss? really nice!

[Sammie7]

Yeah, I have it tied down on thin pieces of slate and it justs grows towards the light. It is really nice and bright green.

[Mgamer20o0]

i do the same thing as Sammie7 does.

[blackwolfXKAV]

Yeah, I have it tied down on thin pieces of slate and it justs grows towards the light. It is really nice and bright green.

Can you give us some more details?

also, what are you using to light the ten gallon?

Thanks, Black.

[Sammie7]

I have a ten gallon with 2 10 watt compact fluorescent bulbs. I just took some thin pieces of slate, placed some java moss on it, and wrapped it with thread til it was completely secure. Then I just watched as it grew about an inch and a half in a month's time. I actually just trimmed it back this last water change, so I have to figure out what I'm going to do with the trimmings.
I was going to give some to some members who live in New York and Michigan, but I have to wait until it gets warmer. I would still have a lot left over though. I couldn't believe how much and how fast it grew. Even if I did give away all the trimmings, I would soon have much more on my hands. If anyone wants some just ask. First come, first served. Also depends on where you live I guess. If you live in part of the US that is really cold right now I guess you'd have to wait till spring or until the weather warms up. That's if you wanted to wait that long.:dance2:

[Marinemom]

It is not really necessary to vaccuum the substrate in a planted tank especially if it is heavily planted, since the mulm will be used by the plants as fertilizer. It should be fine without it. You can just do the regular water changes without vaccuuming in this situation.

Marinemom