Planted Tank

Pittsford_Pets · Nov 22, 2017

This isn't a reef, but it's a nano tank question. I've been thinking of changing up my 20g planted (not the one with the corydoras) and I'm wondering what substrate I should use. I have sand right now but I'd rather use either eco complete or stratum. Which do you suggest? It's just wisteria, dwarf sag, water sprite, and hydrophilia. It's a 20g high so how much do I need?

nautical_nathaniel · Nov 22, 2017

I used this stuff for my betta aquarium and my girlfriend's betta sorority: http://tropica.com/en/plant-care/aquarium-soil/aquarium-soil/

A little bit more expensive but not nearly as dusty as eco-complete can be.

It's a little acidic at first but it eventually normalizes around 6.8-7.0. My Dwarf sagittaria, Broad Amazon sword, and staurogyne repens all seem to like it.

keddre · Nov 22, 2017

Back when I had a planted fresh, I did 2 inches of potting soil topped with two inches of pool sand. long cycle but excellent plant growth.

brandon429 · Nov 22, 2017

I was just going to say to cap it and don't use borrowing fish. it circumvents all the costly planted type substrates, use what you like to use as the visual portion but make sure its not large grain that exchanges nutrients too fast w the topwater (bg cyano begging to occur)

capping is neat cheat. I didn't know about that in the 90s I only used co2 injection, water ferts, and seachem fluorite but it was work intensive. capping way better. I have capped + co2 injected micro planted systems on my tube channel capping is a neat trick.

keddre · Nov 22, 2017

brandon429 said:
I was just going to say to cap it and don't use borrowing fish. it circumvents all the costly planted type substrates, use what you like to use as the visual portion but make sure its not large grain that exchanges nutrients too fast w the topwater (bg cyano begging to occur)

capping is neat cheat. I didn't know about that in the 90s I only used co2 injection, water ferts, and seachem fluorite but it was work intensive. capping way better. I have capped + co2 injected micro planted systems on my tube channel capping is a neat trick.

Not the asker, but what is capping? Never heard that term

flex13 · Nov 22, 2017

I used - CaribSea Eco Complete Black Planted Aquarium Substrate.

brandon429 · Nov 22, 2017

K its that technique you did, normal substrate over high organic soil that was my short word made up ha! Walstad approach is what they really call it

hey this is the sickest CO2 injector ever made out of api test tubes, the panflute technique of b429 heh:

Waters · Nov 22, 2017

The best substrate you can buy for planted tanks is ADA Aquasoil.....I always used Amazonia for very good results. It is expensive but well worth it IMO. Here is a shot of my last planted tank.......