Amazonia Scape Substrate Help?

[-billabong-]

Am looking to set up a "Nature" Amazon style aquascape influenced by some of Takashi Amanos work. I was just wondering if anyone could recommend the necessary quantity of ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia for a juwel vision 180??? it comes in bags of 3 litres(£13) or 9litres(£28) and am unsure of the quantity needed. If anyone could also recomend another cheaper substrate it would be greatly apreciated as i dont want to spend any more than £30 on substrates for the scape.

Any advice on setting up, necessary purchases, and aquascapeing this scape would be greatly apreciated also. Will have the journal on here in a week or so.

 

[Castellop123]

Ya...

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

A lot of dark bogwood would suit nicely. There are plenty of sites with biotopes from the amazon region so best advice i can give is to google it.

Chris

 

[Themuleous]

Right well first off, if you only have £30 for the substrate AS is out, you'd need several bags for a 180. AE suggest 1 9lt bag per 60lt, so you'd need at least three, well above you're budget. This also counts out EC which is around the same price.

For your money you are really looking at base layer substrates like tropica plant substrate, for a 180lt you'd need 4lt and a 5lt bag costs 20quid. then top with your choice of sand or fine gravel.

I would add that you shouldn't skimp on the substrate if you are serious about doing the tank 'properly.' ADA AS is probably the best substrate you can get and is known to be best for promoting good plant growth. So its worth the money

Sam

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

You could mix a bag of Seachems Flourite with play sand to fill up your 180. It will still be dark, good for plant growth and cheaper as you dont need as much.

Chris

 

[-billabong-]

Cheers for the advice guys. Am pretty serious about gettin this one right as ive been playing around with planted tanks for 2 years. will look into all this now.