Heater Wire And Sand

[typhoon]

okay i posted before about wether to have sand or gravel and i think i am going to use sand this time! but i have a heater cable for underneath the substrate (which was gravel before) and it will be heavily planted

What i want to no is can i stil use my heater cable and is 2 inches of sand enuff for a heavily planted tank?
thanks

 

[Dave Spencer]

The general concensus is that heater cables provide no real benefit to the substrate.

Two inches of sand will be adequate, but try sloping it up towards the back to a depth of four or five inches.

 

[crazie.eddie]

I agree about not using the heater cables. One problem with using them is the plants will eventually take root and secure itselft toe the heater cables. When you remove or move these plants around, you would end up taking the cable out and it would be difficult to replace it back.

 

[typhoon]

u say four or five inches towards the back but wont the gases build up in the deeper areas??

thanks

 

[Dave Spencer]

u say four or five inches towards the back but wont the gases build up in the deeper areas??

thanks

Not with good substrate management. My substrate is virtually 100% planted, so the root systems keep it all oxygenated and moving, plus large O2 bubbles are constantly being released out of the substrate from their root systems.

If you have large areas that will be undisturbed, you could poke the handle end of a wooden spoon in to the sand periodically, just to release any potential gasses.

I also have some Malaysian Trumpet Snails, which burrow through the sand and turn it over. My Corydoras are constantly turning over the surface.

You say you are going for a heavily planted tank, so you shouldn`t really have any problems.