Fertilizer Soil and Sand.... is it a must?

[Halimlee85]

Hi Bros,

i a newbie and i starting a new planted tank and i wanan check if

a) if i use soil (GEX) must i add a layer for fertilizer first before adding the soil?

b) for planted must i add a layer of sand after i lay the GEX soil? is it a must for planted? or i can just make do without the layer of sand?

Many thanks in advance!!!

[gene]

No to both questions, you can just use gex by itself. A reminder, there is no need to wash the soil, just pick out the floating debris when you fill up the tank with water

[woonyj]

of course it is needed for growing rooted water plants healthily.

[Shadow]

My experience with GEX is not as fertile as my fav soil. It is ok for the first 2 or 3 months but after that you can see slow down in growth. Especially for those fast growing plants, in my case was Elatine triandra. You can improve it by putting fert tablets under the soil. Regular liquid fertilizer will also help.

[marcusth]

yeap i agree with shadow...i am experimenting with my 2 feet tank with just decorative black sand with a few jbj fert balls...my plants are growing slowly but it is growing definitely with the japanese hairgrass as the best guage, slowly developing runners...

Just dose with liquid fertilizer it should be fine and u really save alot of $$