Substrate for a 55+ Gallon full planted...

[enchanted]

Okay, I think I will start with one Penguin 330 then add another as I get the tank filling.

I'm . I really like the look of sand and think it would be wonderful as a tank substrate for looks, but I also realize the plants need good nutrition and this is more important than the looks of the substrate because without good nutrition an entire planted tank goes bad.

Are there any good sand looking fertilized substrates or am I stuck w/ eco or flourite?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[1cellularguru1]

I've found one good picture of Eco-Complete and it appears to be sort of a finer gravel to an extent in regards to texture.......

http/www.carib-sea.com/catpage6.htm

Very bottom.

Wow, this seems pretty good. Any drawbacks? How often would you have to replace or replenish it. Is it safe for all fish?

 

[luxum]

Are there any good sand looking fertilized substrates or am I stuck w/ eco or flourite?

There is a black sand for planted tanks called Onyx Sand which is made by Seachem, the same people who make Flourite.

 

[enchanted]

Now if I could just figure out how much I need.

It was only $16.99 a bag at PetSmart. (15 lbs I think).

 

[luxum]

According to Seachem, one bag is enough for a 2 inch bed in a 10 gallon tank.

Recommended use is 1 kg (2 lbs) for approximately each 200 cm2 (31 in2) of tank bottom at a depth of 5 cm (2 in).

 

[enchanted]

Recommended use is 1 kg (2 lbs) for approximately each 200 cm2 (31 in2) of tank bottom at a depth of 5 cm (2 in).


55G = 37.161290322580645161290322580645 pounds.

2 bags.....

 

[DogFish]

According to the substrate calculator, if your tank is 48 inches by 13 inches, for 2 inch deep you need 69 pounds of eco-complete,
http/www.plantedtank.net/substratecalculator.html

How many pounds in a bag, 20? So 4 bags of eco-complete for a 55 gal?

 

[enchanted]

I went sand w/ Seachem flourish tabs....

I just could not figure out how to spend $70+ on substrate.

 

[Lateral Line]

Trying to make layered substrates almost always ends in failure. The things mix. Sand over anything will mix quickly, since the fine grains drop easily between anything coarser. The actions of cleaning, fish grubbing about and plant roots will churn it all up in no time.

Swimming pool filter sand. Simple and cheap. The grain size and shape is more uniform, and it doesn't pack down as much as other sands. Keep it open of course, prod mine with a chop stick, but basically trouble free.

 

[enchanted]

Seachem Flourish Tabs aren't a substrate. They are a tab food for Plants. Just little strang shaped items you put in the substrate to feed the plants.