Best substrate for planted tanks? I am startin ng starting
- Thread starter ccole
- Start date
hi ccole,i use this,
http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-treatments-fish-medicines/tropical-aquarium-treatments-and-fish-medicines/aquarium-plant-additives-and-fertilisers/tetra-plant-complete-substrate-2-8kg.html
with sand on top.
my swords love it,the roots from the big one covers most of the bottom of the tank.
my other plants are tied to bogwood and slate,so it depends on wot plants u get to wot sort of substrate u need.
i did have loads of twisted vals and ferns etc but only the ferns and swords are planted in the substrate now,ned kept diging the vals up so i removed them
http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-treatments-fish-medicines/tropical-aquarium-treatments-and-fish-medicines/aquarium-plant-additives-and-fertilisers/tetra-plant-complete-substrate-2-8kg.html
with sand on top.
my swords love it,the roots from the big one covers most of the bottom of the tank.
my other plants are tied to bogwood and slate,so it depends on wot plants u get to wot sort of substrate u need.
i did have loads of twisted vals and ferns etc but only the ferns and swords are planted in the substrate now,ned kept diging the vals up so i removed them
Last edited:
Did you find this had any cchange On your water chemistry? Cheershi ccole,i use this,
http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-treatments-fish-medicines/tropical-aquarium-treatments-and-fish-medicines/aquarium-plant-additives-and-fertilisers/tetra-plant-complete-substrate-2-8kg.html
with sand on top.
my swords love it,the roots from the big one covers most of the bottom of the tank.
my other plants are tied to bogwood and slate,so it depends on wot plants u get to wot sort of substrate u need.
i did have loads of twisted vals and ferns etc but only the ferns and swords are planted in the substrate now,ned Pkept diging the vals up so i removed them
I do not plant the tank, instead I have numerous pots in my tank. When I start a new pot I use one without holes in the bottom so all material is retained when removing from the tank later.
First in the pot is fertiliser, usually phostrogen followed by peat based compost and then top off with tank gravel. I grow cryptos and the growth rate is very good.
The reason I started doing this was that I use under gravel filtration and plants do not do as well as in the pots.
The young BNs love grazing on the leaves.
Fortyfoot
:hi:
First in the pot is fertiliser, usually phostrogen followed by peat based compost and then top off with tank gravel. I grow cryptos and the growth rate is very good.
The reason I started doing this was that I use under gravel filtration and plants do not do as well as in the pots.
The young BNs love grazing on the leaves.
Fortyfoot
:hi:
Flourite is excellent and relatively cost effective for small - medium sized tanks (usually under 4ft x 2ft footprint). You don't have to get the sand - there is a pebble like version available too.
I use Tetra plant substrate with Dennerle diamond gravel on top, this gravel does not effect ph.
http://www.dennerle.eu/global/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=74&Itemid=120&lang=en
http://www.dennerle.eu/global/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=74&Itemid=120&lang=en
Hi all,
If you want a cheap substrate with a high CEC, "calcined moler clay" is a good one.
You can buy it as oil spill granules "Bio-sorb" or as Bonsai potting media, but the easiest way is as "Tesco's lightweight low dust cat litter". The only problem is that is that it is scented and you have to rinse the scent away.
Details here:
<http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm> and a thread on UKAPS <http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8572>
I've used it, and it is an attractive rusty colour when wet.
Moler Clay is "Diatomaceous Earth", so it doesn't effect pH etc.
cheers Darrel
If you want a cheap substrate with a high CEC, "calcined moler clay" is a good one.
You can buy it as oil spill granules "Bio-sorb" or as Bonsai potting media, but the easiest way is as "Tesco's lightweight low dust cat litter". The only problem is that is that it is scented and you have to rinse the scent away.
Details here:
<http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm> and a thread on UKAPS <http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8572>
I've used it, and it is an attractive rusty colour when wet.
Moler Clay is "Diatomaceous Earth", so it doesn't effect pH etc.
cheers Darrel