I have had aquariums while but none have live plants in them. I planning on setting up a new tank but i know there things about good substrate, amount of light, and co2. I have the light down and DIY co2, problem is now what should i do for the substrate.
I have read about fine gravel, sand, and soil (usually plant soil).
I was wondering which one should i use and how should i set it up.
I have several planted tanks, all with different substrates and all plants do fine ... and considering you are going all out with the lighting and co2, i think you can just pick the substrate you like the look of because in my experience plants grow in all mediums ... i have the cheapest play sand to the most expensive aquarium sand, ADA aqua soil, and gravel, and the plants do fine in every tank with low light and no co2, only weekly liquid fertilizer ...
what i did was i bought regular gravel and filled it so it was 1 inch off the bottom of the tank. Than i took sand with nutrients and poured it on the gravel. the sand should take up 2 inches, so total you'd have 3 inches of substrate on the bottom of your tank, and 2 layers, bottom layer gravel, top layer sand. It helps the plant by allowing the plants roots to grow in the gravel and absord nutrients from the sand.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Another thing you can do is buy regular potting soil and place that on the bottom of your tank so it takes up 1 inch, then cover it with 2 inches of gravel or sand.
Petstores also sell gravel made for plants, but you have to buy quite a bit of it and its pricey.
Remember, IF YOU BUY SAND, make sure you buy the kind for freshwater, if you want a freshwater tank, or buy sand for saltwater, if you want a saltwater tank. If you buy sand made for saltwater, it will raise the pH level if you use it in a freshwater tank.
Remember, always when using live plants have 3 inches or more of substrate for the roots of the plant.
You will need laterite, available in pet stores, it is a clay based substrate for your plants.Then cover it with at least an inch or two of normal gravel so you have a stable bottom and you can still vacuume the gravel as long as you dont go too deep.This has worked excellent for me.
i have live plants in my aquarium and i have about 2 inches of gravel at the bottom ... you need 2 inches so the plants can root. sand and big rocks/pebbles also work fine.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
hope it helps:)
dirt if you don't plan on having fish but sand if you do
natural stones
