Planted Aquarium Substrate

[CataphractMSH]

I'm begining to become intrested in planting either of my 10gal tanks.

But I have come arcoss a few concerns.

Substrate...amount, depth and name brand.

Assuming that more is better in this case.

Should I buy Flourite and EcoComplete laying around 2 inches each in one 10gal tank.

What complications may I except from this methiod?

Wloudn't plants benefit from greater content and depth?

 

[fishlover_0591]

I'm begining to become intrested in planting either of my 10gal tanks.

But I have come arcoss a few concerns.

Substrate...amount, depth and name brand.

Assuming that more is better in this case.

Should I buy Flourite and EcoComplete laying around 2 inches each in one 10gal tank.

What complications may I except from this methiod?

Wloudn't plants benefit from greater content and depth?

Ok even though i am new here i can help . Just use flourite and since they normally sell it in 15 lb bags just buy one bag and you should have close to 2 inches of it. Keep in mind that you will need to rinse the flourite really well don't just dump it into the tank and fill lol or it will be a murky mess .

 

[chibi]

When you say 2 inches each, you mean both of them? That means you'd have 4 inches of substrate in a 10 gallon. That's a lot of substrate! I use 2 inches of fine gravel in my tank and my plants are fine. Aquarium plants don't make as many roots as regular soil plants do. When the roots get big and hit the bottom, they just start growing horizontally, so don't worry about having too little substrate. I've never used those brands of substrate, so I can't help you there. Good luck, real plants in tanks are always a plus!

Oh, and welcome to the fish forums, fishlover! <3

 

[tophat665]

How much substrate you need is going to depend on whether or not you want to slope it. If you get a 25 lb bag of fluorite and rinse the suffering f*** out of it, you can get, as was noted, 2" of level substrate. If you want to plant swords, though, you want much deeper; 4" is good. I like to have my substrate between 1 and 2" at the front of the tank, and between 4 and 8 and the back (with a 10 gallon, 4 is plenty). You could take 20 lbs of fluorite, and start it sloping front to back, then another 5 lbs mixed half and half with gravel on top of that, and finally another 5lbs of gravel, and you could get an nice slope going on, particularly if you stick some flat rocks athwart the slope under the top layer.

Nothing wrong with a level substrate, though.

 

[CataphractMSH]

Ok even though i am new here i can help . Just use flourite and since they normally sell it in 15 lb bags just buy one bag and you should have close to 2 inches of it. Keep in mind that you will need to rinse the flourite really well don't just dump it into the tank and fill lol or it will be a murky mess .

About rinsing...doesn't this reduce it's strength.

Is it possible just to lay the substrate in the tank without distrubing it.

With a very low water level

or empty, then adding water... say with an air line from a bucket.

Does it ever settle?

 

[CataphractMSH]

When you say 2 inches each, you mean both of them? That means you'd have 4 inches of substrate in a 10 gallon. That's a lot of substrate! I use 2 inches of fine gravel in my tank and my plants are fine. Aquarium plants don't make as many roots as regular soil plants do. When the roots get big and hit the bottom, they just start growing horizontally, so don't worry about having too little substrate. I've never used those brands of substrate, so I can't help you there. Good luck, real plants in tanks are always a plus!

Oh, and welcome to the fish forums, fishlover! <3

I may distribute them evenly among my two 10gal tanks...if I can get another fluorescent light for Christmas.

 

[fishlover_0591]

I don't think it reduce's its effects. Just rinse it to your liking

 

[CataphractMSH]

How much substrate you need is going to depend on whether or not you want to slope it. If you get a 25 lb bag of fluorite and rinse the suffering f*** out of it, you can get, as was noted, 2" of level substrate. If you want to plant swords, though, you want much deeper; 4" is good. I like to have my substrate between 1 and 2" at the front of the tank, and between 4 and 8 and the back (with a 10 gallon, 4 is plenty). You could take 20 lbs of fluorite, and start it sloping front to back, then another 5 lbs mixed half and half with gravel on top of that, and finally another 5lbs of gravel, and you could get an nice slope going on, particularly if you stick some flat rocks athwart the slope under the top layer.

Nothing wrong with a level substrate, though.

Sloping...sounds cool.

Although I've been thinking can I use palnt baskets...say kidney or square shape?

As I have my ideas aimed at terrace farming style and Grand Canyon type of look.

Or would it be basicly the same as using a mlik crate subsitute.