Substrate Question

[Shaddex]

If we want a nice "Cheap" Substrate, instead of using aquarium sand we all use Argos Play sand.

Question is this..... What the cheap alternative to substrate for a planted tank or will the play sand do the job ?

 

[Tizer]

You can plant in sand no problems, i have!

 

[mattbleasby]

My planted tanks are all set in Play sand. And i feed with King British but thats it.

 

[lilfishie]

again all my tanks have playsand and are medium/heavily planted, i use no Co2 or anything

 

[TimNorwich]

How deep do you reccomend sand be? I have about 2" of sand all the way through my Rekord 800 tank, the fish love burrowing it so never thought any different.

Can this leave me at risk of large gas pockets?

If so would you reccomend I put MTS in?

 

[Tizer]

Gas pockets are not really a cause for concern, its an old wives tale in my book I've got about 2 inches of sand and plants seem to take root ok.

 

[StandbySetting]

Gas pockets are beneficial not detrimental, the anoxic conditions are perfect for anaerobic bacteria, a product of their respiration is Hydrogen Sulfide, which is pretty potent, but on contact with oxygenated water it is instantly oxidized:

2H[sub]2[/sub]S + 3O[sub]2[/sub] > 2SO[sub]2[/sub] + H[sub]2[/sub]0

For a planted tank you could use Clay Cat litter, it will absorb nutrients and slowly leech them over time, you could have 1cm of clay capped with 3-5cm of sand, or you could use Akadama, which is popular with Bonsai growers.