Guido wrote:
Elaine T wrote:

Guido wrote:

George Pontis wrote:

There is no one right answer to how much. If you are not going to
grow plants then you have many options for gravel and I think 25lb
will give you adequate coverage, maybe more like 1". The bags
sometimes have coverage information.

If you intend to grow plants then you need to do some research on
exactly what you want to use for substrate, but it probably won't be
the large, epoxy coated pebbles. Possibly sand, flourite, or other
non-conventional materials. You would also be aiming for that 2"
depth or a bit more.


I was planning on sticking with artificial plants this time around,
since I'm re-learning how to take care of an aquarium since it was so
long ago. So, that's good news, thanks for the info!



As a person incapable of even jarring a betta without some java moss,
I have to ask you to reconsider running a plantless tank. Plants
dramatically increase the water quality and there are plenty that will
grow under lower lighting conditions. I'd suggest setting up your
tank with 2" of fine natural gravel. It's not much harder to vacuum
and that way if you want to put a plant here and there, you can add a
fertilizer tablet at the roots and you will have enough gravel for the
plant to grow.


Hmm... now I've got to consider this. When you're using plants, do you
usually put a layer of substrate below some pebbly gravel? Do you
happen to have any good websites for plant information? I'm thinking of
getting started with some tetras, so I'd have to aim for a plant that
likes that same kind of pH, right?

Any gravel or sand 2-3 mm or smaller that allows plants to root in it is
fine for a basic planted tank. Plants can't root and spread in pebbly
gravel. If you use plain gravel, you need to put laterite (an iron rich
clay) tablets at the roots of crypts and swordplants. There are some
new high-tech substrates, Fluorish, Eco Complete, and Onyx, which are
porous clay with minerals plants need at a particle size designed for
plant roots. If you use one, you don't have to fertilize the substrate.

As for pH, you will have the best success if you keep your tank at your
local tapwater pH. Fish HATE pH changes and if you use chemicals to
adjust your pH, then the pH can change at every water change! Most
community fish and plants do fine at pH 6.5 to pH 8. This includes just
about every species of tetra. As in gardening, choosing plants for your
level of lighting is the most important consideration, followed by
appropriate size.

I actually wouldn't recommend you start with a high light tank because
they're fiddly. Algae can grow awfully fast when things get out of
balance. 1-1.5 watts/gallon will let you grow java moss, java fern,
Anubias spp. and many species of cryptocorynes, without too much algae.
Plan your eventual fish load for a few otocinclus, a bristle nose
pleco, and a siamese algae eater and your plants and tank will be mostly
very neatly cleaned of algae.

--
__ Elaine T __
__' http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com