Growing Plants In Sand ?

[nicky1200]

I have a 6 ft tank which holds a lot of water/ I have been trying to grow plants in smaller tanks but with no luck. I have been told by a pet shop that bigger tanks are better for water quilty. I have "unipac aqua gravel" in my tank and was wondering if it matters about the subtrate with growing plants ? I have good lighting and a sump to keep the water clean. So does the subtrate do much for growing plants ? Im guessing the plants get all the goodness from the subtrate ?
 
Also what subtrate is good for growing plants with ?

 

[SmexxyNick]

Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate is really nice.....

 

[nicky1200]

Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate is really nice.....

I was just looking around and Eco-Complete  has been poping up a lot. The only thing is they only sell them in the 9kg bags.. At the moment i have a thin layer of sand in my tank if i bought some Eco-Complete could i add it in even tho the fish are in the tank ? I was thinking about buying some Eco-Complete and then getting a cup and adding some into the tank with a cup bit by bit...
Seen has the tank is full

 

[SmexxyNick]

Umm, This might be hard but maybe taking the fish out, all the ornaments and siphoning out whichever sand you can and put a thin layer of regular sand, and then put the eco complete as a mid layer and then finish it with regular sand, that way when you put the plant in its going through the eco complete getting the nutrients it needs.

 

[SO19Firearms]

It's more about the nutrients and CO2 for growing plants than what they sit in. Although certain substrates will provide some of these nutrients so you can get good results. The aqua soils and sands from ADA & flora-base from columbo etc will make a difference - Usually anything that leaches ammonia when you first put it in is good (Difficult to retro fit tho)
Clays like eco complete won't help much in themselves unless you're fertilising well already, so beyond the aesthetic you might be better just using some quality root plugs or osmocote under the substrate you have.


IMO