Nutrient issues in planted tank with sand bottom.

Ccyber24

Hello, My name is chris. I currently have a 40 gallon planted tank with sand substraight. In it i have Dwarf lilies, Some bog plant i got form outside, Anubais(attached to a rock), Java Fern(also attached to a rock), and finally a dwarf grass plant. ( I know there are two different kinds and I have no idea which one I own due to company error Which i called them out on.) Due to the fact that i have sand substraight I was concerned that my plants roots are not getting enough nutirents, so what should i do about this? I also would like to move around the plants in my tank. How well does anyone think they will handle the move?

pirasha

Hi!

for nutrients you should add fertilizer...you could use plant tabs (their tabs that you stick under the roots of the plant that has nutrients in it) ...I know that seachem flourish has both a tab version and a liquid version that I have read good things about...I am currently using nutrafin fertilizer stick, which seems to be doing a pretty decent job thus far.

leogtr

hi there!! welcome to the forums!!!

I agree with pirasha. Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium. get that and some tabs and youll be SET.

Blaxicanlatino

welcome Pirasha and chris to the forum ^^

like Pirasha said, you should use both liquid fertilizers and root tabs. I personally use seachem Flourish (the liquid) and seachem root tabs.

Byron

I concur with the various products mentioned, I have had good success with all of them. But you might want to stick with liquid and not the substrate fertilizers (tabs or sticks) given the plants you mention. Anubias and Java Fern root on wood or rocks, not in the substrate, so liquid fertilizer added to the water will be sufficient (and less expensive). Heavy feeders like swords benefit from substrate ferts, but I don't bother otherwise.

As for moving them around. Anubias and JF attach to objects as I mentioned, so the object can be moved; if you do pull the plant off, try not to damage too many roots. But I suggest leaving it attached to whatever.

Most substrate-rooted plants can withstand some movement as long as it is not excessive (too often). An exception are the crypts; you don't mention any crypts, but they are one group of plants that should never be moved unless essential, as they frequently "melt" if they are.

Byron.

Blaxicanlatino

ah your right! i didnt take into consideration the plant that he had in the tank T_T

Ccyber24

Thank you everyone for your help. while thinking about it, i will not be moving around my plants. I also went out and got liquid fertalizer. when i have the money ill be getting root tablets.