Every aquarist planning to add live plants to their tank thinks about what substrate to use. Since there are different types of substrates and not every aquatic plant can grow in all types, knowing which plant will grow to its full potential in a particular substrate is important.
In this article, we are going to discuss sand as a substrate, and by the end, you will be able to discover the plants that are the best to grow in sand in an aquarium.
Sand as a Substrate
Out of all the substrates, sand mimics the natural environment of fish, especially freshwater and marine. It is the reason that makes it a popular substrate among aquarists. In addition, sand gives a clean and aesthetic look to the bottom of the aquarium, in which highlighting décor, rocks, and aquatic life becomes easy. At the same time, sand also supports beneficial bacteria, which are an essential part of a healthy tank.
However, there is a downside of using sand– it lacks nutrients. Therefore, adding root tabs or a base layer of another nutrient-rich substrate like soil becomes essential, especially if you are growing plants that are root feeder.
Also, sand is denser than gravel; therefore, debris do not settle deep but remain on the surface. As a result, it requires careful maintenance, which can be done by regular siphoning. It is the only way to prevent the buildup of waste materials on the sand substrate.
When sand substrate is perfectly maintained, it not only offers functional benefits but also visual too; thus, making an excellent option for any aquarium setup. Now, let’s take a look at 10 common aquarium plants that can grow in a sand substrate.
Best aquarium plants to grow in sand
Amazon sword is one of the most common aquarium plants that can grow well in sand substrate. It is a big plant featuring large leaves and is easy to grow and maintain. But since it is a heavy root feeder, adding plenty of root tabs will help it grow well in sand.
Another thing to keep in mind is its large size. With the ability to grow up to 40 cm tall, amazon sword needs a lot of space. Some other requirements of amazon sword are– medium lighting, temperatures between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius, and pH around 6.5 to 7.5. For the rest, prune the plant after regular intervals by removing the leaves from the outside. After a few days, you will see new leaves emerging.
With its long, waving leaves, Vallisneria brings lush-green look to the aquarium. Aquarists even use it to create a jungle-look in their setup. It is often planted as a background plant, wherein the waving leaves create an aesthetic look. There are multiple variants such as nana, asiatica, gigantica and spiralis of Vallisneria that can be used.
It can grow well in sand substrate, but only with the condition that it gets root tabs. When the tank attains proper water parameters, the plant grows like crazy. Its basic requirement are– medium to high lighting, temperature between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius, and pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
Vallisneria is easy to propagate as well. In fact, it propagates while the shoot moves along the gravel. These are called runners, and they develop new plants. So, once Vallisneria is properly developed inside the tank, you get multiple plantlets easily. Do not forget to add root tabs when grown in sand substrate.
This is another aquatic plant that comes in different variants that vary in color, size, and shape, and can grow in sand substrate. Cryptocoryne aka crypt, is a root feeder; therefore, adding root tabs is a must. Liquid fertilizers also help it grow and develop.
Crypts are hardy, but once they are added to water, they begin to melt. It refers to a condition where it looks like the plant is dying, but actually it is only adapting to the new environment and getting rid of old leaves to grow new ones.
Even though crypts are hardy, maintaining stable water conditions is one of the ways to upkeep their health. This plant may look different while growing in the new water condition, but gradually it attains its normal color, shape, and size.
When planning to grow Dwarf Hygro in the sand, make sure to provide it enough nutrients. It is a beautiful plant and grows fast in the presence of nutrients. Adding liquid fertilizers and additional carbon dioxide will also help it grow abundantly.
Compared to Vallisneria and Amazon Sword, this plant is not a heavy root feeder. In contrast, it takes up most of the nutrients from water. Due to this, many aquarists prefer to keep it as a floating plant instead of rooting plant. However, while floating, it develops a lot of roots, which doesn’t look good. So, it is better to grow it in the substrate and offer a good supply of nutrients through the substrate and water.
Keep the temperature between 20 and 27 degree Celsius and lighting low to medium for attaining ideal growth. pH between 6 and 8 is good for this plant.
This plant comes under one of the fast-growing aquatic plants. It can add lush greenery to a tank within a few days. Under the right conditions, waterweed does not take much time to proliferate and grow abundantly. At the same time, it is a beginner-friendly plant that can grow in sand.
The best part is, it performs well alone with liquid fertilizers, so there is no need to add root tabs. However, adding will only help waterweed flourish further. Being a fast-grower, the plant sometimes grows rather long. It is when cutting the plant and adding the cutting back to the sand will help it grow into a new plant after a few days. This way, propagating waterweed and getting a lot of them in the tank becomes easy.
Waterweed will tolerate temperatures between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius with moderate lighting. pH could be between 6 and 7.5.
This is one of the hardy aquatic plants that one may grow in their tank on sand substrate. Being hardy, it can grow well in varying environmental conditions, provided the water conditions are not fluctuating drastically. So, it is a beginner-friendly plant as well.
Besides, hornwort takes most of the nutrients from water instead of substrate. Therefore, adding liquid fertilizers is enough for its proper growth. This is the feature that makes it ideal for growing in sand.
Additionally, keeping hornwort alive is rather easy. All you need is to keep the temperature between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, lighting moderate, and pH from 6 to 7.5, and watch it grow healthily. It grows rapidly, so regular pruning is another requirement of hornwort.
Even though Cabomba is not a beginner-friendly plant but it can grow well in sand substrate. At the same time, it is not very difficult to keep alive, so it is considered best only for expert aquarists. The best part is that Cabomba can take nutrients from water, so growing it in plain sand is possible. However, it requires a lot of nutrients, so do not forget to add enough liquid fertilizers.
As far as water conditions are concerned, offer medium to high lighting and additional carbon dioxide to support its growth. Keeping the pH between 5 and 7 will help it grow best. Under stable and specified water conditions, Cabomba grows fast. Therefore, regular pruning also becomes a part of its maintenance.
One of the versatile aquarium plants, Java Moss, can be grown in sand substrate without any hassle. However, it is able to live on sand rather than in sand. It is often used by aquarists for aquascaping. If the intention is to use Java Moss to create a carpet look, it will be better to weigh it down so that it stays in place. Also, keep the water current low so that moss does not move. Fish should also not disturb it much.
Once established in sand, Java Moss gets a grip on it and continues growing over time. However, it takes time to create that carpet-look, so patience is the key. The best part is that Java Moss is beginner-friendly. Offering 21 and 24 degrees Celsius temperature (it can tolerate upto 32 degrees Celsius too), moderate to high light intensity, and pH between 6 and 7 will help it grow properly.
Another beautiful aquatic plant that can be added in sand substrate is Anubias. There are multiple varieties of Anubias, such as nana, nana gold, barteri, gracilis, dragon claw, and more, and aquarists can choose any based on their preference. It is the reason why Anubias is available in multiple sizes. The leaves are usually strong and dark green.
Since Anubias needs to be planted in such a way that the roots do not bury, it is kept under the section of plants suitable for sand substrate. Basically, for growing Anubias, it doesn’t matter what substrate you are using.
It takes nutrients from water, so do not forget to add liquid fertilizers. Secondly, it needs low to medium light, and the pH should be between 5.5 and 7. Anubias is a slow grower but sturdy plant, and it can tolerate minor fluctuations of water parameters. Yet, stable conditions will help it grow abundantly.
Another popular aquarium plant that can grow in sand with little effort is Java Fern. It is easy to grow and maintain, and available in different varieties such as Dwarf Java Fern, Wrinkled Leaf, Java Fern Philippine, and more. All that’s needed is stable water conditions, and Java Fern brings lush-green look to the tank.
While growing Java Fern, roots should not be buried inside as it is a rhizomatous plant, making it suitable for growing in sand substrate. It can be tied to the driftwood or any other piece of wood or suitable décor item. Gradually, it establishes itself and starts growing.
Besides, Java Fern requires some nutrients for which liquid fertilizers will suffice. Light requirements of the plant are low, and it grows well without additional carbon dioxide as well. Keeping the water temperature between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius and pH between 6.5 and 7 is ideal for Java Fern.
Final Words
When using sand as the substrate, choosing the right plants doesn’t mean limiting creativity. It means selecting the species that can thrive well in such a substrate. This article has explained which aquatic plants are compatible with growing in sand. These plants are beautiful, hardy and adapt well to sand provided they are given proper root support, nutrients and care. Some of them do not even need to bury in sand but are attached to pieces of wood for proliferating.
When digging the plant inside, make sure to add root tabs so that it does not die due to a lack of nutrients. Even the delicate root feeders can flourish in a sandy setup with proper care and nutrients.
At last, all that is needed is balance to have a thriving aquarium. Pair the right plants, offer them appropriate lighting, fertilizers, and the tank with sand-substrate will be just as lush and vibrant as one with specialized plant substrates. Whether it is about a low-maintenance aquascape or a high-tech tank with a densely planted underwater garden, these plants ensure beauty to your aquarium.
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