Corys Vs Planting Substrates? Help Please!

[TetraFin]

Hi all!

I'm going to be getting my low tech planted tank plan into action as of payday, and am after some advice for substrate, but I've got to be careful I don't get anything too rough as it will upset my panda corys. Currently i'm running with very fine rounded gravel. I would like to change to sand for the cory's benefit, but that wouldnt root the plants very well. So another option is putting a dirt layer down and covering with sand, which will be great for the first month or so, but will eventually mix up and look messy, so not ideal.

What options do I feasibly have whist keeping to the spec of,
- Must be suitable for my corys.
- Must be suitable for planting.

I've heard of people using cat litter. Is that smooth and small enough for corys to be happy in? Or could I just increase the depth of my current substrate to 2 - 3 inches and plant?

Many thanks!

 

[Tuxyu3]

Why on earth is sand not any good for planting?

 

[techen]

Sand is fine for a few plants, Of course if your going heavy and High tech then sand might be something you want to avoid. But I have sand and grow java fern among a few other things.

 

[Chad]

What I have done is put the planting substrate down first and the sand on top of that. That way the plants get what they want and so do the corys. As stated above this does depend on the plants and the type of planted substrate you are using. Some substrates specifically state not to cover them. The Fluval Stratum that I have in my small tank is one such.

 

[KrystaK]

+1
I have about an inch of gravel under about an inch and a half of sand. the plants are all happy and my corys all have their barbles (sp?)

 

[ian]

Why on earth is sand not any good for planting?

This....^^^

Sand is fine for planting, high tech or low tech. You just need to dose the water column.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Not in all cases mate, a HC carpet wont stay put for long in sand, will float a lot quicker than if you used something like gravel or a clay based substrate.

 

[ian]

Oh sorry...


Hemianthus does fine in sand when not messed about with...however the op has corys so hemianthus is really out of the question. There are plenty of people out there who have planted HC in sand and its done well, a simple google search will tell you this.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Lol it will float a lot quicker Ian and you know it, secondly the reason I said that is as you put, sand is fine for planting, not in all cases but in this case yes.

 

[Chad]

Not in all cases mate, a HC carpet wont stay put for long in sand, will float a lot quicker than if you used something like gravel or a clay based substrate.

I don't have sand, but I do have a very light substrate (Fluval Stratum) and I had this problem with my HC carpet as well. I had to sort of wedge one end under a rock to get it to stay. Not that it won't work or couldn't be made to but for me personally if I had cory or some loaches I just wouldn't even try to plant the stuff. What a pain that would be.

 

[ian]

It shouldnt really lift in stratum, I find that hard to believe. If done correctly it should last at least six months before lifting (that's in whatever substrate). The key I'd planting it right in the first place.

I'll go back under my rock now admin...

 

[Chad]

...I find that hard to believe...

We are talking about the same thing aren't we? Hemianthus callitrichoides, dwarf baby tears?
I purchased a mat of it from the LFS for my little tank and it wanted to float. Perhaps that was the mat's fault but certainly not something to require credulity.

 

[ian]

It's never best IMO to plant it singularly, always leave some rock wool on it and plant that way, this gives it enough anchorage, in sand. Then when it spreads don't trim for about 6 weeks, then give it a good hack back. HC will always lift eventually, in whatever substrate you use, over on ukaps, we have had a discussion about the same thing and the general consensus tends to be 6-8 months at best, again, that's in any substrate, not just sand. The vid below shows the best way to plant HC. Just remember you can get fine soils, that are as light as sand.


http/youtube.com/watch?v=44cDbR2YvK4

 

[Chad]

Nice video. Mine was already an established mat. There was no rock wool. Just a mat material like a sense straw mat.

 

[ian]

Interesting, I have never seen it grown in mat form. This is probs why it lifted, due to it not being able to root properly. HC has surprisingly long roots for what essentially a stem plant.