Planted Tank Bottom

[guppyman1]

I am going to be setting up a low-tech planted tank. I understand most of the requirements but don't get what to do with the substrate. Do you first put in something like EcoComplete and then put the rock gravel on top?

By rock gravel I mean this

 

[Socks]

I am going to be setting up a low-tech planted tank. I understand most of the requirements but don't get what to do with the substrate. Do you first put in something like EcoComplete and then put the rock gravel on top?

By rock gravel I mean this

Some put rock on top and some go strait "something of the like ecocomplete".It's mostly up to your preference unless you go with something like soil that should be capped with sand or gravel to keep your water clear and help keep excess nutrient out of the water column.I used a mix (25/75) of very small gravel and latirite(I believe you do not need latirite with most something like ecocompletes) and ecocomplete for my bottom 2-4 inches,and a (25/75) mix of ecocomplete and larger gravel for my top 1-2 inches to get the color mix I wanted.
Again,it's mostly up to your preference but the best thing you could do for a planted tank is do something above regular gravel.