Substrate/ Bio Stratum problems

[Catfish586]

I am on my second Aqua One Nano tank, this one being the 100 litre version, which is planted and has various tetras and a clown plec and a Fluval Bio Stratum substrate which I started using for the first time when setting up the tank two years ago (previously used gravel).

The Bio Stratum is great for plants... however it has gradually degraded and most of the plants now often have a brown coating of dust owing to the degraded Bio Stratum (it doesn't take much to stir it up, which I imagine is mostly down to the plec at night.)

I'm pretty much done with it and want/need to replace the whole lot... possibly with the larger grained Fluval Stratum but most likely with something else entirely. Has anyone had a similar experience with Bio Stratum and what are other recommended substate for planted tanks (ideally that don't need replacing after two years). Thanks.

 

[GaryE8 6]

My understanding is that all additive type substrates need replacing as they break down. Personally, while I have no hope of ever being described as an aquascaper, I use sand/fine grained gravel and root tabs for my plants. It's a compromise, as I like fish that dig a bit, as a clown plec will.

A true aquascaper may have better advice - for me the fish come first in all set ups.

 

[TwoTankAmin40]

Personally, I think about 90% of the "sophisticated" plant supplies.equipment are an absolute waste of money. I concur with GaryE on substrate. I even did a high tech planted tech with pressurized co2 and Power compact lighting. There was nothing I tired in terms of plants which did not thrive.

The substrate in that tank was a small Estes coated gravel.

My substrate ferts have pretty much only been Jobe's spikes For Lush Ferns and Palms. (slow-release 16-2-6 NPK). (if one cannot find the Fern & Palm spikes the next best option from Jobe's are the ones for house plants.)

The nice part of this fert. is one can cut the spikes into smaller size pieces. The downside to them is they are not good for folks who are constantly replanting their tank which requires digging up existing plants. If the spike gets into the water you will earn your plant MBA (Mastered By Algae). A pack of 30 of these spikes cost a few dollars and they last a very long time. When I did the CO2 I pusged it directly into the Eheim canister as the way to diffuse it in the tank. I chose Eheim as I felt other brands would not stand up to having gas bubbles in the filter. I still have that Eheim running on a tank today and it is as quiet as it was out of the box.

I also still have the substrate which has been used in other tanks. It makes 0 mess over time.

What worked well for me may not be for you, but the point is that there are multiple ways we cam do things in our tanks. Some are cheap substitutes which will do the job while others are branded items that one may like but which can be a bit price if you have a lot of planted tanks. I have also used the Tropica liquid Ferts for over 20 years now. But I refuse to pay up for their substrate ferts.

Finally, I have used Flourish Excel as a CO2 substitute in all my planted tanks also for over 20 years. I never overdose it and I never try to use it as an algaecide. I add it once a week after water changes at the rate of 3 ml/10gallons of water.

I learned very early on that some very common products which are not pricey become so when they get a label which says for Aquarium Use. A box of Fluval Peat granules weighing 500 gm./17.6 ounces (1.1 pounds) on Amazon costs $24.27. A bag of Hoffman Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss weighing 3.75 pounds (60 ounces) on Amazon costs $16.95.

As always the above are my opinions. They have worked well for me but they are far from the only or perhaps even the best way to do things. Plenty of folks are likely to disagree with how I do things. The trick to being a successful fish keeper is learning what things work well for you. Often this can be a trial and error process.

 

[Catfish586]

Thanks both. Good advice. I changed from gravel and fertiliser balls when I got the new tank but can't say I've noticed any greatly improved plant performance... just a more problematic and mushier substrate. I suspect I'll go back to gravel: certainly don't want to end up in the same position with a murky substrate again in a year or two!

 

[Uberhoust2]

I switch a couple of tanks to a type of bio strata a few years back but within a year it had broken down and was very difficult to maintain. Right now I mostly use sand or fine gravel with root tabs. Much easier to maintain, though I will say that my Amazon Swords did much better in the aqua soil than in the gravel, the rest of my plants didn't really seem to be affected. I only use moderate lighting.

 

[Jennet27 85]

May I ask, do you just press a root tab into your gravel along with the plant you are placing? My 80 litre has just finished cycling and I am about to plant it up before getting fish. I probably cannot get the same root tabs that you use as I am in UK, but will have a look. I have got plant liquids, one for daily, one for weekly use. Thanks.