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hey everyone, i've been reading the forums for a few months now and i have learned so much. i've trying my best to keep my 2 six month old RES living happy and healthy. i will post a few pics of them asap. my question here is that i've been brainstorming a few different tank setups since my new setup seems a bit boring. i went to a local pet store around my house and i saw a tank setup with just aquatic plants. i was thinking if i could use the plant substrate in my tank, add a few plants in there that are beneficial to RES, and maybe one or two pieces of driftwood. i believe the substrate they used was something called Eco-Complete Plant Substrate. i will provide a link below. Thanks everyone!

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=9087

I honestly think it would make a huge mess! Plus I think your turtle could eat it and become impacted and would also trap the waste that your turtle produces. Actually, taking the bases off of your plastic plants and replacing them with suction cups and attatching them to your aquarium would be much more economical.

If you want live plants in your tanks, there's an easier way. (grey goose)

Take a few Glad containers, you know the little clear tubs w/ blue lids that you put leftovers in. Put gravel in there and put the plant in. Cover the container and drill some holes. This way, the turtles can't eat the gravel, easier to clean, and you still can have live plants.

I agree, the turtles will either eat it, which is bad. OR they'll kick it around, clog the filter and make the water really dirty.

thanks for the feedback guys. yea i kinda figured i would hear that the turts might eat some of the substrate and have it impacted. maybe i could use your advice RESowner and make some of those glad containers that grey goose has. will the live plants be able to survive for long periods in just gravel? again ill post up some pics of my setup asap. thanks again.

Trying to maintain a nice planted tank with turts in it would be like banging your head against the wall. Again and again and again......

cheeseenlo wrote:will the live plants be able to survive for long periods in just gravel?

I don't think the gravel will be your problem in keeping the plants alive. Your turtle will devour them before you find out if the gravel is effective.

haha thats funny grey goose your probably right. my turts right now have nothing to trash around inside their tank. im pretty sure once i put some plants in there they'll just mess everything up. well i've decided not to put the plant substrate into the tank. for now i'm thinking about growing my own plants most likely anacharis so i could feed them to my turts. does anyone have any tips on growing my own. i could just buy a few bunches from petco or from ebay then try to grow it.

cheeseenlo wrote:does anyone have any tips on growing my own. i could just buy a few bunches from petco or from ebay then try to grow it.

You can try contacting scripta_elegans about that - she recently had an abundance of anarchis she was growing.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6891

NOTE: She is currently on vacation so you'll have to wait until she returns.