Undergravel heater

[Catsaholic]

I'm trying to grow plants in my tank, most of the time successfully. But some plants just will not grow. I've just learned that they need an under-gravel heater. Apparently, gravel (or any substrate) temperature is 10 degrees lower than water temperature.
In this case, will plecos benefit from under-gravel filter? Does anyone try it or have any info about it?

Thanks

Irena
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Irena's plecos:

Albino Bristlenose
Albino Long Fin Bristlenose
Lace Long Fin Bristlenose
L052 Flounder
L124 Para Pleco
L134 Leopard Frog
L172A Golden Vampire
L182 Starlight Bristlenose - 3
L190 Royal
L200 Green Phantom
L204 Flash (Emperor)

[Hitch]

I have never had a problem with plants growing without undergravel heater. What type of lighting are you using?

also, never really had experience with these, but I would think that the digging bahaviour of the plecos would uncover the cables and cause possible injuries.

[Catsaholic]

I have really strong 4 bulbs Coralife and CO2 unit. As I said, plants grow like crazy, but some grassy plants, such as Rickie eye need under-graver heating.
But anyway, you have a point about plecos digging behaviour. And plecos are absolute priority for me, therefore I will try to grow Rickie eye as is.

[Bwhiskered]

Most people that have trouble growing plants are trying to grow them in coarse or unnatural gravel. The gravel sold in all stores for aquariums allows the fish waste and food to go down in and get trapped causing bacteria that destroy the plant roots. The best is a natural sand such as coarse builders sand, from a builders supply or horticultural sand from a garden center. It is all the same which is just a lakeshore sand. It can be mixed with pea gravel to give it a more appealing look.