Substrate/sand Depth

[yabadaba]

Hi Guys, I'm just setting up my new aquarium now (5x2x2ft) and have added approx. 1cm of Tropica Plant Substrate as a bottom layer.

I'm now capping it with Unipac Zambezi sand, but am not sure what the optimum total depth is that I should be aiming for. So far, 1 bag of the sand has covered just over half the tank with an approx. total depth of 2". I have another two bags. Should I add one more for approx. 2" total depth or both for what I would imagine would be about 3" in total?

 

[Truck]

Hi Guys, I'm just setting up my new aquarium now (5x2x2ft) and have added approx. 1cm of Tropica Plant Substrate as a bottom layer.

I'm now capping it with Unipac Zambezi sand, but am not sure what the optimum total depth is that I should be aiming for. So far, 1 bag of the sand has covered just over half the tank with an approx. total depth of 2". I have another two bags. Should I add one more for approx. 2" total depth or both for what I would imagine would be about 3" in total?

2 inches is fine...nie varies form about 1.5 inches to about 4 inches in the deepest places (ive gone a for a few mounds to stop it looking flat)

 

[yabadaba]

Hi Guys, I'm just setting up my new aquarium now (5x2x2ft) and have added approx. 1cm of Tropica Plant Substrate as a bottom layer.

I'm now capping it with Unipac Zambezi sand, but am not sure what the optimum total depth is that I should be aiming for. So far, 1 bag of the sand has covered just over half the tank with an approx. total depth of 2". I have another two bags. Should I add one more for approx. 2" total depth or both for what I would imagine would be about 3" in total?

2 inches is fine...nie varies form about 1.5 inches to about 4 inches in the deepest places (ive gone a for a few mounds to stop it looking flat)

Thanks for that. I actually have the extra bag, so it's no big deal making it up to 3". You think 2" is actually preferable, though?

 

[Truck]

3 inch all over is too much...and it will take plants longer to get into the clay.

2 inches is fine

 

[yabadaba]

3 inch all over is too much...and it will take plants longer to get into the clay.

2 inches is fine

Got it. Thanks.

 

[yabadaba]

Hmmm...I may have messed this up. I'm just filling with water now, but some of the bottom layer substrate seems to have come to the surface. Kinda looks like bits of peat floating on the surface. Will I be able to take this out with a fine net or maybe it will eventually sink?

 

[Truck]

Hmmm...I may have messed this up. I'm just filling with water now, but some of the bottom layer substrate seems to have come to the surface. Kinda looks like bits of peat floating on the surface. Will I be able to take this out with a fine net or maybe it will eventually sink?

the tropica has been disturbed? fill it back over with sand and remove the bits
fill the tank with air line via a siphon, even then you have to scatter it as youll end up disturbing the sand...it takes patience