adding live plants to freshwater tank

fishin · 09-29-2006, 07:39 AM

I am in the beginning stages of adding live plants to a 2 year old 30 gal tank.It has worked very well

and now I'm ready to try something new.I have an under-gravel filter with a Fluval 204.Will this work with live plants?I'm not looking to go crazy at the start but I am a believer that If you are going to do something do it right the first time.If this adventure works I will be adding more But for now just beginning.Any help with this adventure would be most helpful.Thanks

Jay · 09-29-2006, 08:41 AM

Generally plants and UGFs do not work well together because...

A good mixture of gravel and mlum (nutrient rich deposit of fish poo, fish food, etc. which is broken down by bacterial action) and is used by the plants as a source of nutrients is not possible with an UGF.

UGFs clog easily in a planted tank.

You might want to rethink keeping the UGF.

Read through the threads in the planted tank sub forum, there is a lot of good information to learn and think about.

and please get back with any questions.

Regards.
Jay