Substrate question

[Jon W]

My 60cm planted tank has course gravel approx. 5mm in diameter and I think
the plants are not reaching their potential.

I was wondering if adding a finer gravel to the top and mixing it in whilst
vacuuming would help or whether I need to bite the bullet and go for the
complete rebuild.

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

[Rex Grigg]

Might help but the larger gravel will always end up on top.

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 10:52:08 +0100, "Jon W"
> wrote:

>My 60cm planted tank has course gravel approx. 5mm in diameter and I think
>the plants are not reaching their potential.
>
>I was wondering if adding a finer gravel to the top and mixing it in whilst
>vacuuming would help or whether I need to bite the bullet and go for the
>complete rebuild.
>
>Any suggestions would be very welcome.
>


Semper Fi!

Visit the forums at Aqua Botanic!
http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/#1

Need Nitrate or Potassium for your tank? Go to www.litemanu.com
(Just a happy customer of the above!)

[Mike Edwardes]

"Jon W" > wrote in message >...
> My 60cm planted tank has course gravel approx. 5mm in diameter and I think
> the plants are not reaching their potential.
> I was wondering if adding a finer gravel to the top and mixing it in whilst
> vacuuming would help or whether I need to bite the bullet and go for the
> complete rebuild.
> Any suggestions would be very welcome.

I have done this successfully:
http://mike-edwardes.members.beeb.net/plant/lotech.html
Try it, you've got nothing to lose!

Mike.
--
Mike Edwardes Tropicals
http://mike-edwardes.members.beeb.net

[Jon W]

Good point. I may as well go for the strip down rather than waste a load of
gravel.

"Rex Grigg" > wrote in message
...
> Might help but the larger gravel will always end up on top.
>
> On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 10:52:08 +0100, "Jon W"
> > wrote:
>
> >My 60cm planted tank has course gravel approx. 5mm in diameter and I
think
> >the plants are not reaching their potential.
> >
> >I was wondering if adding a finer gravel to the top and mixing it in
whilst
> >vacuuming would help or whether I need to bite the bullet and go for the
> >complete rebuild.
> >
> >Any suggestions would be very welcome.
> >
>
>
> Semper Fi!
>
> Visit the forums at Aqua Botanic!
> http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/#1
>
> Need Nitrate or Potassium for your tank? Go to www.litemanu.com
> (Just a happy customer of the above!)

[Jon W]

> > Any suggestions would be very welcome.
>
> I have done this successfully:
> http://mike-edwardes.members.beeb.net/plant/lotech.html
> Try it, you've got nothing to lose!
>
> Mike.

Thanks. I like the idea of making it as low tech and low maintenance as
possible.