That depend on what you want to grow. Believe it or not in one of my planted tanks all I have under the play sand is a thin layer of activated filter carbon.
That depend on what you want to grow. Believe it or not in one of my planted tanks all I have under the play sand is a thin layer of activated filter carbon.
Tetraplant complete is good, you put a thin layer on the bottom of your tank, then can layer sand on top. It provides long term fertilisation which is good.
The anubias and java fern could care less what substrate you have, they usually prefer to be attached to decor. As to val, in my experience it will grow in almost anything.
Most plants will grow happily in plain sand, so long as you make sure they are getting their nutrients from some other source, such as dosing the water with ferts.