jusdeb Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Id like to remove the gravel in my fighter tanks and replace it with more natural gravel and go full on with the plants... Any suggestions as to maintaining my bacteria in the changeover would be appreciated.. i have sponge filters and would like to keep the bacteria in them alive as Ive had no problems with these tanks . They are 25 litre splish/splash tanks. Also is it alright to trim the roots of the existing plants when transpalnting them....Thanx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jusdeb Posted January 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Oh and I have a crypt in a terracotta pot growing in one tank can this be planted directly into the gravel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Just keep 50% of the water and don't give it a clean out. Trimming the roots might stress the plants out if transplanting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jusdeb Posted January 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 thanx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 You can plant the crypt directly into the gravel. Definitely don't trim the roots of the crypt. They really dislike having their roots disturbed. Just ease it out of the pot and plant the entire root ball. Some potted crypts are grown in a fibrous material. Just leave this alone so as not to disturb the crypt. The roots will grow out of it eventually and spread into the gravel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren MacFish Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Keep as much of the water you siphon out as you can, and leave the mulm under the gravel there after you take out the gravel. Add a thin layer of aquarium substrate or unenriched low grade potting soil on top of the mulm, plant your new plants into it and then add the new gravel and the old water back. Syphon it onto a plate to stop disturbance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jusdeb Posted January 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 Pulled the Betta tanks down today and replaced the dark gravel with a lighter gravel. Im not sure if I like it but it highlights the fish better and the tanks seem a lot brighter with the lights on. Im a bit restricted with plant variety as I relly on LFS for plants as all the ones Ive ordered online just die on me , so Ive just split up what I had and Ill see how they go. Here are the before pics... And the afters... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted January 27, 2008 Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 the plant in the front right of this picture is mondo grass, and will not survive for long after water. The anubias, banana lillies and crytps look healthy, are you doing anything in the way of fertilisation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jusdeb Posted January 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 Yep..liquid fert. added after each water change ...Should I be doing more??? Im a bit of a newbie to planted tanks always found silk plants easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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