Substrate For Planted Tank?

[Fishywishy333]

Hi everyone, so I am not sure what type of fertilisation I should use for a new planted tank. If you recommend some type of substrate or tablet, it would help if you could tell me a type that is good. I kind of know what type of liquid fert I would get, but it would be appreciated if you recommend a different type.

Hope you can help and thanks in advance.

 

[Livewire88]

Hello, 
 
There are various different options on the market, IMO the best are the type that are made from clay because they contain a lot of nutrients from new and will also soak up nutrients that you dose into the water column. Some of the clay substrates will leach ammonia from new for up to a month so are not suitable for a stocked tank. 
 
To mention a few names, ADA Aqua Soil which is the daddy of planted substrates, Colombo Flora Base, TNC Neutrasoil. The possibilities are endless 

 
You could even use dirt, ie John Innes Compost ect, but this option can get messy.

 

[Fishywishy333]

Cool, I'll look up brands, would the dirt cloud the water though?

Thanks for answering my question

 

[JoebW]

If I were you, I would go all seachem.
Flourish Tabs, Flourish, Flourish Exel, etc. Seachem sells their plant ferts in packages and alone. For substrate, if your using the tabs I would reccomend Eco- complete as it supplies vital nutrients for plants while also staying stable in the aquarium, meaning not changing the pH or anything like that. Hope this helps!

 

[Fishywishy333]

Thanks Joeb! It did help.

 

[Livewire88]

Cool, I'll look up brands, would the dirt cloud the water though?

Thanks for answering my question

 
Dirt would cloud the water but most people who use it add a cap on top (Sand or gravel) to help reduce the clouding. 
 
I also use Eco complete in 2 of my tanks with good results but would say the substrates I have listed above are superior. 

 

[Fishywishy333]

Oh right, I was going to use sand anyway. I probably wouldn't want the risk if clouding though, I'll go with something one of you have listed.

 

[Livewire88]

If you are going to use sand with any of the substrates I have mentioned the sand will end up working its way under the substrate so not really a good ideal im afraid 

 
And remember these substrates will leach ammonia so if you already have fish in your tank you will have to be prepared to do a lot of water changes till the ammonia stops leaching 

better still is to add fish once the ammonia leaching has ended. 

 

[Fishywishy333]

Do you think it would be better just to use liquid ferts?

 

[Noahsfish]

Eco complete is great for a lot of plants, I have it in my 10 gallon. Unfortunately dwarf baby tears and other similar plants have never done well in it and don't root well..