Gilraen Took

I got the idea for NPTs from a betta forum and have set some similar sorts up for my guys. I've got 3 10 gallon tanks with 1.5 wpg and topsoil for the substrate, though my gravel is too big to be a real NPT(had bigger stuff on hand, but no extra cash for getting new for a while) The topsoil is causing the water to turn really yellow, which isnt' a problem for the fish, they don't mind it, but I do a bit. More frequant water changes will cure that, right? Also, is it advisable to, once I have the money for it, re-do the gravel part? The stuff I have now is anywhere up to 3/4" in diameter. And mostly big stuff.

Also, what should I plant in them? I've got a couple of luteas, and wendtiis(my 1 pot of each had a lot of plants once I divided them. . .) a few java ferns a bit of water sprite a bit of java moss and some hornwort(which has a clump in each tank) The tanks are each 10 gallons with a cross shaped divider. So. . . Roughly 10x4.5"?

mistergreen

i don't think gravel size matters.. The gravel is there to weigh down the soil and not seal off the soil from oxygen.

onemyndseye

Correct sir...


Though some plants will like the smaller stuff alot better as it provides good anchor for their roots. Especially fine rooted foreground plants.

".... Also, what should I plant in them?...."

Whatever you want .... I like to try as many different kinds of plants that I can.. even ones that are generally believed not to grow in NPTs

That being said, you just want to be sure that you have enough fast growers in their to fight off algea


Take care and good luck
-Justin
One Mynds Eye

Gilraen Took

Yup, that's what I got the hornwort for Thanks. I'd heard that the gravel had to be small for it to be effective. That's cool.

aquabillpers

The gravel in a soil-based aquarium acts as a cap to keep the soil where it should be and out of the water. It also provides a grip for the plants.

Very fine playbox sand makes a great cap, but there are a number of disadvantages to it. Very coarse-grained gravel does not provide a cap. 2mm - 3mm gravel, called "builders sand/gravel" and "blasting sand/gravel" here, is a good compromise. Using it, I've never had the kind of leak that you describe.

"Builders gravel" costs about $7 for 100 pounds here. It needs to be well rinsed.

Bill

Muirner

Let the hornwort float, it'll double in size almost daily.