My Substrate...

[bogwood]

Gonna do this over the w/e - just want some confirmation from more knowledgable fish-keepers that this is a good substrate for 'real' planting a 'tropical' tank: box of (heavily washed) Laterite granules gently mixed with an inch of fine natural gravel as the base layer; then another inch of just the fine gravel over the top; then an inch of sand over that (sand primarily for bottom feeders and to stop too much 'Laterite leakage'). What do you guys think?

 

[Squid]

3 inches?

Im new to this too.. i was planning on doing mine this weekend with 1 inch of sand mixed with laterite, then a further inch of just sand on top..

Look forward to hearing the replies in that case

Good luck too bogwood

Squid

 

[AndyTaylor]

bogwood.....my setup is similar to your plan, completesubstrate/gravel/sand/gravel/sand....no particular reason for all the layers (I got carried away!!). But it works fine, my catfish love the sand and the plants are growing like mad. Sand is a nightmare to clean though, FYI.

 

[bogwood]

bogwood.....my setup is similar to your plan, completesubstrate/gravel/sand/gravel/sand....no particular reason for all the layers (I got carried away!!). But it works fine, my catfish love the sand and the plants are growing like mad. Sand is a nightmare to clean though, FYI.

....so... forget about the sand?...

 

[Squid]

Good question..

but i like the sand.. i though that as long as you vac often holding it an inch or so above the sand, you could easily clean it up a bit.. with gravel the muck gets right the way down to the bottom making it trickier.. keeping on top of it is the key with sand i believe. giving it a stir frequently will also help with keeping it fresh and no gas pockets or mould building up.

but im a newbie, so I could be wrong.. im not speaking from experience, just what i have read... andy probably has a better idea with his first hand experience.

 

[AndyTaylor]

Nah....leave the sand in, it looks good IMO and, as i say, if you have catfish or corys they'll be much happier.
As Squid said, your gravel hoovering technique will need to be changed slightly, let the siphon hover over the sand instead of sucking it up like you would with gravel but it can be done.
Bear in mind that, over time, the sand will find it's way down through the gravel anyway.....mine lasted a few weeks and needs to be topped up now (not an easy job so i just grew a glosso carpet over it instead)

ps....don't pay big money for 'aquarium' sand from your LFS...get down to your toy store and buy play sand. No nutrients but that won't matter with your laterite layer..

 

[Squid]

Funny you should say that.. just got an email from argos saying that my £2.49 bags of playsand have arrived for collection..

and your right.. i think it does look good.

 

[pseud]

Hmm.. I'd be worried about using playsand. I'm not entirely confident that it's inert. You should keep an eye on your pH levels, make sure they don't sky rocket. I'd personally pay the little extra and get proper aquarium sand (especially if playsand says: "Not for use in aquariums or terrariums")

 

[Squid]

I believe the argos one has been tried and tested by a few members, but im prepared to be corrected

Squid

 

[RYO]

Yup used argos 1 myself with no problems.

 

[lovell_89]

I've got the argos playsand and i've got no problems with it.

 

[AndyTaylor]

Likewise.....I was a bit unsure but it seems as inert as an inert thing! No effects on PH that i can discern. If it's safe for kids to eat i reckon it's safe for my fish?