Plants + Sand?

[Amunet]

Just curious to know how well do aquatic plants do in a sand substrate?
With a bigger tank, we don't want to spend an arm and a leg getting eco-complete or any other special stuff for the tank so were thinking we'd just use sand instead, but I'm not sure how well the plants will do.
Any info would be great

 

[AdAndrews]

plants do great in sand, its better to grow them in sand than in gravel- im gonna use argos 15kg play sand for 2.89, i figure this would do even a bigger tank

 

[Amunet]

That's great to hear
The kind of fish I want for the tank will like a sandy bottom better as well I think. YAY

 

[Underwurlde]

....if you JUST leave them in sand, they will die... nothing to live off. So, what are you planning to do re: feeding your plants? IMO, sand is worse than gravel for some reasons.... Gravel at least allows fish poo to filter down through it to eventually nourish the roots of the plants.

just my 2p's worth

 

[Amunet]

I dunno, what are some options? I was thinking about dosing w/ liquid ferts and maybe getting some plant tablets, but if that's not going to be enough, then please do share whatever info ya got

 

[jonnyf84]

i've only used sand (play sand) in a couple of tanks and in both the plants were not happy and soon died off, on top of that it is a sod to clean, the slightest bit of muck just sticks out a mile, but for that one day when it's spotless it does look amazing and my old parrot and corys loved it but i would never use it again. If your insistent on it then dose heavy root feeders with root tabs, the Tropica TPN+ capasules are very good and last for a long time.

 

[Amunet]

Yeah, I like the way sand substrate looks in a tank, and I know how loaches, etc will like it, BUT.... I'm not looking forward to cleaning it. I'm a very messy sloppy cleaner when it comes to my fish tanks and well, sand bottom would pose a problem heh.
Nothing is a done deal yet though

About how many bags of ecocomplete do you think it would take to partially cover a 75 or a 120gallon tank? I'd only use it in the spots w/ plants... say like the back half of a long tank.

 

[Underwurlde]

work out that as an area in square feet. You'll need 1.5 bags per square feet - EcoComplete suggests a depth of 3 inches. 1 bag =9kg = 20lb.

Andy

 

[Amunet]

Bah math!

 

[Underwurlde]

Math. Me like math. Don't tell anyone.

 

[keenonfish]

plants do great in sand, its better to grow them in sand than in gravel- im gonna use argos 15kg play sand for 2.89, i figure this would do even a bigger tank

Well I went for gravel because I believe it is far better for the roots for a number of reasons.... Sand is too compact and nutrients don't get to the roots but it does look better

 

[Underwurlde]

^ agreed.

 

[aaronnorth]

plants do great in sand, its better to grow them in sand than in gravel- im gonna use argos 15kg play sand for 2.89, i figure this would do even a bigger tank

Well I went for gravel because I believe it is far better for the roots for a number of reasons.... Sand is too compact and nutrients don't get to the roots but it does look better

the roots will break the sand easily enough.