Substrate For Plants

[SensesFail]

What substrate will i need to have a planted aquarium? Iv read in places that you would have something like:
Tetra Plant Complete Substrate on the bottom of the tank with a layer of pea gravel over it? I would like some corys and i believe they like sand so can you add sand on top of this or can someone give any suggestions as to what ill need? I get pea gravel with the tank free but unsure if this is the best thing to use for corys and american cichlids!



Many thanks!

 

[Joshwainwright]

I would also like to know the answer to this question.

 

[JenCliBee]

What substrate will i need to have a planted aquarium? Iv read in places that you would have something like:
Tetra Plant Complete Substrate on the bottom of the tank with a layer of pea gravel over it? I would like some corys and i believe they like sand so can you add sand on top of this or can someone give any suggestions as to what ill need? I get pea gravel with the tank free but unsure if this is the best thing to use for corys and american cichlids!



Many thanks!

Theoretically you could just use sand aslong as you dose the water column. A good rich substrate ive found is extremely good with nutrient high demand plants but even this isn't essential as long as there is 'excess' nutrients in the water column.

Alot of people use specific plant substrates due to having that bit more leeway in regards of dosing and if they forget for any particular reason the substrate will have enough nutrients to combat this with no bad effects on plants.

So choice is basically up to you, whichever suits you and your tanks and fishes needs should be of the upmost importance.

I use a good cec substrates, akadama but this can be a little sharp in places and not ideally suited to cory's, however i have kept cory's in a tank with it and ive never had any problems but i would really make your own decision on that, my experience may just be down to pure luck rather lol.

 

[sXeLifer]

Cory's do love sand they literally frolic in it. Mines roll about in it, swim to the top of the tank with a mouthful of it and spit it out. It's amazing to watch!! As for plants I just have sand, two different layers of it. One from an old tank and one to make my current tanks substrate deeper to accommodate the plant roots. I've been told this is a suitable set up.

 

[JoshuaA]

Cory's do love sand they literally frolic in it. Mines roll about in it, swim to the top of the tank with a mouthful of it and spit it out.

I loved my Bronze corys when they use to do that all the tank, I have a fine gravel now but the darkness of the gravel makes their cute pink underneath show up so much. They're not exactly lookers when it comes to fish but they're probably my favourite.

The one thing I made sure was that the substrate was thick enough so that the Corys wouldn't dig or scrape the surface off to reveal the underlayer of plant substrate.