Gravel Too Coarse?

T

tackful

AC Members
Mar 15, 2007
649
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18
Sausalito, CA
My 29 gal tank is about 8 weeks old and the fish are doing quite well but my plants (Java Fern, Wysteria, and Annubias are struggling ) The Wysteria looks faded, and the Annubias' leaves are starting to show black spots.
I have been using Flourish Excel for about three weeks and added Multi-Bottom plant food sticks a few days ago. As a substrate I have 30 lbs. of FloraMax gravel, which is quite big, and nothing else.
Is my gravel not the best for plants? I've considered replacing it with something much finer.

Thanks,

Tackful
 
what is your lighting situation?

i only recently started using laterite in my gravel, ive always used plain old coarse gravel with great success over the years, plants should grow fine in any neutral substrate given the right conditions.
 
The substrate is not as critical for aquatics as terrestrials. It's not needed to trap moisture and nutrients.
 
Neither the ferns mor the anubias need to be planted in substrate, although they can be, When doing so be careful not to bury the rhizome as this will kill the plant.

None of the plants you list need much in the way of ferts to do well.

The gravel is not too course.
 
I think the gravel that you have is fine. What is your lighting like and are you running co2?(I think most of these plants do not need co2 unless there is an issue with the lighting.)

Marinemom
 
Hi Folks,
Thanks for the response. I use the 100 watt light that came with the All-Glass Aquarium package. No co2 as I don't have many plants yet.
Interesting question about the rhizomes, which I assume must be the roots. I recall planting everything deep enough to keep it anchored, maybe 1/2" or so. I have noticed that the Annubius' roots eventually worked their way to the top.
Thanks for the Help,
Tackful
 
tackful said:
Hi Folks,
Thanks for the response. I use the 100 watt light that came with the All-Glass Aquarium package. No co2 as I don't have many plants yet.
Interesting question about the rhizomes, which I assume must be the roots. I recall planting everything deep enough to keep it anchored, maybe 1/2" or so. I have noticed that the Annubius' roots eventually worked their way to the top.
Thanks for the Help,
Tackful
Click to expand...

The rhizome is the horizontal fleshy bar that the roots come out of. If you bury this, the water around it becomes stagnant and the plant dies. It is okay to bury the roots just make sure the rhizome has plenty of water circulation around them.

100 watts seems like a lot of light to have over a 29 without CO2. How long do you keep them on each day?
 
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