Substrate - Again - Whats The Best For A Bottom Layer

[Spiceweasel69]

Hi

Was looking to go pure seachem flourite but cant find it cheap enough. I have a 2 metre tank and would need about 8 bags at £25 each. ouch.

So, im looking to have a top layer of 30mm roman gravel or equivalent fine 2-3mm black gravel. Under this im looking for a good substrate as im going heavily planted. Eco Complete or flourite, i dont know enough about them and would appreciate your help in choosing.

 

[Truck]

tropica plant substrate, youd be looking at about 60 quid ( 3 bags) for this stuff, 1* 5 litre bag did my 30*80

 

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

is it possible to just plant into pots under the gravel?

 

[locker]

Just used JBL aquabasis plus for our two 60l tanks

1 5l bag was just enough for a 3mm layer on the bottom.

It was £11.49 for the bag which was supossed to do 100l.

JBL also do plant fertilisers.

if you google jbl and then look at the brochures they are very helpful

 

[chr15_8]

for a tank that size i would use tropica.

or you could use aquatics compost for pond plants. bought a 4 litre bag for £2.49. That's what i used for my new setup with jbl stuff on top.

personally for a tank that size i would use tropica stuff as you wont want to redo it once you've got water in etc.

is it possible to just plant into pots under the gravel?

are you asking it or suggesting it as a solution?

as far as im aware you shouldn't do it as it restricts the root system therefore the plants dont grow as well as they could

 

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

for a tank that size i would use tropica.

or you could use aquatics compost for pond plants. bought a 4 litre bag for £2.49. That's what i used for my new setup with jbl stuff on top.

personally for a tank that size i would use tropica stuff as you wont want to redo it once you've got water in etc.

is it possible to just plant into pots under the gravel?

are you asking it or suggesting it as a solution?

as far as im aware you shouldn't do it as it restricts the root system therefore the plants dont grow as well as they could

i was asking

 

[chr15_8]

for a tank that size i would use tropica.

or you could use aquatics compost for pond plants. bought a 4 litre bag for £2.49. That's what i used for my new setup with jbl stuff on top.

personally for a tank that size i would use tropica stuff as you wont want to redo it once you've got water in etc.

is it possible to just plant into pots under the gravel?

are you asking it or suggesting it as a solution?

as far as im aware you shouldn't do it as it restricts the root system therefore the plants dont grow as well as they could

i was asking

ok, as i said in my previous post then. sorry if it sounded aggressive i just didnt know how you meant it.

 

[Spiceweasel69]

Just used JBL aquabasis plus for our two 60l tanks

1 5l bag was just enough for a 3mm layer on the bottom.

It was £11.49 for the bag which was supossed to do 100l.

JBL also do plant fertilisers.

if you google jbl and then look at the brochures they are very helpful

3mm?? Is that all thats needed? I was looking for around 20mm aquabasis or tropica , then 30mm roman gravel.

 

[Xenosis]

i use topsoil >_>

make sure it has no fertilizers but. and wash it, water log it
and let it dry out & remove the wood bits in it and then good to go! (Y)

 

[Spiceweasel69]

Topsoil??? Really!!!

How well does it work?? I did hear about using aquatic (pond) compost. Does it work well? Could be a big moneysaver.