Starting live plant aquarium

I am wanting to put live plants into my 50 gal aquarium. I have some now and they are growing VERY slowly, but I have a couple questions!

First, I have an undergravel filter, and I am wondering if that will affect the plant growth/root growth?

Second, I dont have substrate, I have medium sized gravel/rocks, but I have been putting plant food and CO2 booster in the water. Does the gravel have a negative on the plants

Third, Some of my plants keep coming out of the gravel and floating to the top. Is there any solution for this?

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Permalink Reply by Brian Treadaway on July 26, 2013 at 11:26am

In my experience an undergravel filter does not work well for plants. I would suggest getting rid of it. The reason your plants keep floating it that you don't have a substrate. They need something for the roots to grab ahold of. I would suggest dirting your tank, adding a cap of sand and then the gravel color that you like. Or just getting Eco Complete gravel. Plants grow well in it, but its about $25 a bag so it can get kind of expensive.

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Permalink Reply by Peter on July 27, 2013 at 7:03pm

Undergravel filter is a no no with plants. Second u do have substrate its the med/large rocks. Thats substrate. Gravel isnt bad if ur dosing ferts and co2. If some plants keep floating to the top buy sand any kind and just put some on the plants that keep floating up. Big gravel doesnt hold stuff down as well as sand.

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Permalink Reply by Tim on August 15, 2013 at 10:02pm

I agree with the no no on the under grav. The first plant I grew was a red crypt and I grew it in 1/4 " gravel. When I finally transplanted to my proper plant tank I had to fight the roots out. You said you are getting slow growth. What kind of wattage are you running on your light, what's your tank temp and most important what plants are you growing. There is a big difference with warm water plants, they seem to grow faster. If you check out the pic I have the background is all hygrophila and I chop about 8-10" off every week.