Duped by Petco!

stephenpence said:
haha i know my favorite plant isn't aquatic! ... that's how i was "duped by petco" thank you for the info on the java fern tho.. i will promptly get it out of there and tie it on to some larger rocks. i've been thinking about slowly covering my pea gravel with sand.. i think i like the look of sand better but i don't want to kill off my bio filter.. any thoughts?
Click to expand...

jbradt said:
The sand will eventually filter itself down beneath the rocks. You won't be able to keep that look for long.
Click to expand...

JB is right, Stephen. What you could do to switch your substrate is bag up a large amount of the gravel into media bags or knee-high pantyhose. Put the sand in as you want it to be.. then just place the gravel bags in the tank for a week or two (on top of the new sand layer). It's best to position them near the strongest flow from your filter.

This will let the old gravel seed your new sandbed with beneficial bacteria. Later on, just remove the gravel bags and it's done.
 
Oh sorry about the confusion. I couldn't figureout why you were "duped by petco" in you're post. LOL. Sorry.

And yes, those Java Ferns need to be either tied to a wood or stuck between cracks of rocks.
 
even though the plant is non aquatic, many terrestrial plants can grow in hob filters. if you still want it to ba part of the tank you could just plant it in your filter
 
Does it make a difference that I'm running a HOB type filtration? I've heard that sponge filters retain a lot of bio filter bacteria but id also read that the majority of the colonies would be on my substrate. Without a sponge filter will I still be alright removing the substrate? Sorry for all the questions I just REALLY don't want to have to wait for my tank to cycle again Haha..
 
cam191919 said:
even though the plant is non aquatic, many terrestrial plants can grow in hob filters. if you still want it to ba part of the tank you could just plant it in your filter
Click to expand...

Awesome! Mini-refiguim and nitrate sucker!

stephenpence said:
Does it make a difference that I'm running a HOB type filtration? I've heard that sponge filters retain a lot of bio filter bacteria but id also read that the majority of the colonies would be on my substrate. Without a sponge filter will I still be alright removing the substrate? Sorry for all the questions I just REALLY don't want to have to wait for my tank to cycle again Haha..
Click to expand...

I love HOBs but in a planted tank, they create too much surface movement and offgas the CO2. I love sponge filters but the bubbles that it creates also increases surface movement. How about you take out about half of your substrate and then layer the substrate you want on top. That's what I've done when I switch my tanks from my 10G and 38G. I had about a 1" layer of eco complete from my old tank. And topped it with fluorite.
 
i guess the people who ask all the questions before they buy everything have the right idea? so it sounds like a under-gravel filter would be ideal? or is there another type of filter that i'm not thinkin of?
SO.. .here's my idea. take out half of my pea gravel.. get a decent plant substrate (eco complete?) and use it to fill in the voids. then layer an inch or so of sand on top. bag the gravel and leave it in until the new substrate is populated.. and hope my poor fish don't suffer too much in the mean time.. anything wrong with my plan???
and secondly.. if i need to switch out the HOB i guess now would be the time.. any ideas there?
 
personally, I wouldn't even bother changing the substrate. Your plants will grow fine in the pea gravel. IF you do go with heavy root feeders, just drop some root tabs in.
 
Best kept in a well established live rock aquarium with ample algae growth present for grazing, and provided with lots of shelter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom