plant substrate question

[ToX]

Ok so since I won't be buying more SW fish till at least this summer I decided to convert my 20G long SW QT to a planted fw tank. I need some help with the substrate. I bought some seachem flourite...

1 )Do I need to but gravel or sand or can I just put the flourite in???

Also, I'll be using RO/DI water since I have that for my sw tank.

2) Do I need to had anything to it?

thx

[Seanc]

1) flourite is fine, It is built fo plants, I'v heard it is great for them too, I wanted to try it, but to exspensive.

2) Depends how much light you want and what plants. If you have more then 3WPG then i sugest you get some ferts, the cheepest way is to go to greag watson, and order some ferts from him. their are also a bunch of calculators for calculating how much of a fert to put in, and how much you need. the best one I found was the fertilator at aquaticplantcentral.com, you have to be a member to get it tough.
sean

[ToX]

so I don't need to add sand or gravel to the flourite?

[BigDaddy]

Flourite is all you need.

RO/DI water is not good for planted tanks unless you reconsistute it... plants WANT the minerals you are stripping out of the water with your RO unit

Don't bother with Greg Watson's ferts.  You can get the exact same stuff here locally for next to nothing.

[Seanc]

where can you get It here. I only found it at places like richie feed&seed, and they sold it in packages of like 27Kg

[ToX]

What should I add in the RO water?

[luvfishies]

Just use tapwater, treated for chloramines/chlorine.

NO need to waste R/O water on a planted tank.

[ToX]

Can I run carbon and the round ceramic thing that came with the filter? or is it bad?

[luvfishies]

I would personally just use filter foam, and the ceramic rings. No carbon, as it filters out ferts and other minerals that the plants need.

[clouxles]

The ceramic "things" are places for the beneficial bacteria that complete your cycle to grow. They provide more surface area ... throw them in the filter basket. I agree with LF only use the carbon when required (to clean up a mess) not typically used all the time.