Plants in crushed coral?

[TAS]

Hello i have a 120 gallon tank with crushed coral. Is there any plants that will grow in the crushed coral. I am new to the planted tank set-ups so if anyone knows a link or thread where i can get some good advice please let me know.
thanks.

[Mzungu]

Here's a link:

https://www.houstonfishbox.com

Crushed coral might be a little sharp for the roots of the plants upon initial planting. And not sure how old it is, but it might be buffering a higher pH than plants really like. It also depends on the size of the crushed coral.

Was this previously set up as a saltwater tank? If so, you and the plants would probably be better off changing out the substrate for something more suitable.

If not, and you're careful with the roots of the plants when planting, so as not to rip them or shred them on the sharp surfaces of the crushed coral, they should do all right. You might also want to use root tabs for fertilizer, as crushed corals doesn't have much in the way of nutrients for plants. :)

[angelia]

what fish are in the tank?

[djmatthewblack]

I would replace the substrate rather than fertilize what is basically just rock. Anubias will grow in about any conditions.

[angelia]

I would replace the substrate rather than fertilize what is basically just rock. Anubias will grow in about any conditions.

or change the plans for the tank - crushed coral sure has its good uses.

[TAS]

No the tank has always been fresh water. the fish i currently have are:

Green Terror=1
male and female Red Jules=1ea
lemon peels=2
yellow peacock= 1
electric blue peacock=1
Red parrot=1
plecostomus=1

I think thats all of them. they are all still young, all under a year. if i replace the substrate what should i use that would be good for both plants and the fish i have? i really like my fish and don't want to let them go.

thanks for everyones help.

[angelia]

plecostomus will eat your plants - so i vote silk plant (with no metal)

[Mzungu]

Plecos won't eat plants.

But some of those cichlids you have will either eat the plants, nibble on them, or beat them up and move them around to redecorate.

[TAS]

well that sux, i guess silk it is. thanks for the info guys.

[angelia]

ah but

Plecos won't eat plants..

in my experience they sure do - so i looked it up and find some do - some don't - this article says:

"... more than a handful see the planted aquarium as an all-you-can-eat salad bar..."

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesw...article_id=287

[djmatthewblack]

Try putting some floating plants or moss. I have brazilian pennywort and it grows well at the surface and doesn't require a whole lot of light. Christmas tree moss is also pretty invasive.

[mgarrido]

in my experience they sure do - so i looked it up and find some do - some don't - this article says:

"... more than a handful see the planted aquarium as an all-you-can-eat salad bar..."

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesw...article_id=287

i agree with you 100%, some especies are worst than others but most of the plecos can eat plants. Only 2 variants don't mess with plants in my experience: bn and pitbull pleco.

[Complexity]

It is possible to have some live plants in the tank with the fish you have (note, keyword here is SOME). There are two main problems with certain fish and plants. (1) They eat the plants and/or (2) they dig up the plants. So to have live plants in the tank, you have to get around those two problems.

Eating the plants is an issue of specifics. Certain fish eat certain plants. As long as you avoid either those particular fish or those particular plants, you're in business. Anubias and java ferns are generally not eaten by most fish because they have thick, tough leaves.

I've heard of people who have offered the fish tastier fresh veggies on a regular basis to help keep the fish away from the aquarium plants. It's like telling a little kid to leave your bread alone by offering cake instead. Given a choice, the bread is usually safe.

To get around the digging up issue, there are a few options. One is to plant the plants in ways that prevent the fish from digging up the roots, such as by putting rocks all around the roots. Some fish can dig through even that, but most don't.

You can also anchor the roots, such as tying them to a rock so that even when the fish dig the substrate around the plant, it cannot be uprooted completely. Plants can handle root disturbances very well. The problem with uprooting is having the plants floating at the surface. The rock or anchor will prevent that.

A third option is to plant plants with very strong root systems. Examples are sword plants, red tiger lotus, and even some stems like compact hygro. Their roots become so developed that the fish would have a hard time digging up the entire plant. Of course, you have to get the plant to stay in the substrate long enough to develop a strong root system, but the two previous options can help with that. Once you get a strong root system, you just keep the plant trimmed as desired.

Another option is to forget planting in the substrate and tie the plants onto rocks or driftwood. This is usually done with anubias and java fern. Both are rhizome plants that attach themselves to whatever they're tied to. You cannot bury the rhizome in the substrate so tying them to objects works very well.

While it's not possible to have a "planted tank" filled with a wide variety of frilly plants with the fish you have, it is possible to have live plants with cichlids.

[Complexity]

in my experience they sure do - so i looked it up and find some do - some don't - this article says:

"... more than a handful see the planted aquarium as an all-you-can-eat salad bar..."

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesw...article_id=287

Agreed, there are a few plecos out there that see aquarium plants as a buffet dinner. It just needs to be clarified that these plecos are the exception, not the rule; otherwise, saying plecos will eat the plants is just as inaccurate as saying they will not.

Most people with planted tanks enjoy one or more plecos in their tank. Some even get them to help with algae clean up. I have both. I have an L204 pleco in my planted 75g (the tank pictured in my sig line) and 3 bushynose plecos in my 90g to help control algae (the 90g has some plants as accents).

Personally, I'd be more concerned about having a bottom dwelling fish, such as a pleco, on a sharp substrate, such as crushed coral. I'd either change the substrate or remove the fish.