Is 2 lbs of gravel per gallon the minimum for growing aquatic plants?

I'm planning on setting up a 15 gallon freshwater tank with small rotala, dwarf hygro, black amazon sword, twisted val, needle sag and dwarf sag maybe some water wisteria, water sprite and anubias and crypts.





Also, Can I get a few plants to start and add more later?





I also plan on stocking with about 5 or 6 neon tetras and 3 or 4 longfin leopard danios.

Is 2 lbs of gravel per gallon the minimum for growing aquatic plants?
Awsome bud good luck!!!





Its more about depth of the gravel 3-4 inches is good versus 1-2. Gravel size matters as well. You want the water to be able to flow threw the gravel to delivery nutrients.





That tank is small enough that getting a bag of florite won't cost that much and your plants will love it. I mean really love it.





remembr plants are all about balance. If Light, CO2, Substrate and fertilizers are all in the balance the tank will take off nice. If one is out..weak plants lots of aglea.





If your really really serious about the plants don't mess with gravel and get a serious iron rich substrate. Remeber you won't be vacuuming it.





You can get grasses and other cool stuff aswell. Get 2 otto cats and one amano shrimp to start. They will happily munch all the algea in the tank. Get more as you need them. They can make a tank look amazing and very very clean.





I would recommend a hagen life-glo 2 bulb aswell and a CO2 reactor you can make at home.





get everything in balance and you will be good





heres a sight for a reactor and some stunning tanks.





http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/10/buil...








Good luck!!!!
Reply:I think that the depth is more important than the weight per gallon. It will differ depending on how tall your tank is.





Here's a great website for you to check out:





http://www.plantedtank.net/





Check out ways of getting CO2 in your tank because that makes all the difference in a planted tank.
Reply:well weight isn't really th issue, it'd depth...


if this is a 15long then you'll need more sand than in a 15 tall.


you'd want about 2-3'' of gravel in the tank.


with a general wieght gravel that usually comes out ot about 20#'s


also bags are usually sold in 5, 10, and 20 pound bags... (larger but those are unimportant now)





yes you can add plants later, the ones you've picked out sound good. but the sword may eventually dominate the tank...


the stocking sounds ok... not great but ok...