Egg crates and the plantd tank

[naps]

So I bought a used 55g and it came with egg crates on the bottom to protect it from the rocks and the wood against the bottom glass. My question is if I go planted will the egg crates on the bottom hurt the root growth...to me it kinda looks like it would, but not too sure.

Thanks for any input!

[fishboyt]

I don't think it would hurt them. They would probably just grow around it.

[FIREFISH]

+1 roots will find a way to grow. One way or another. Wait a minute one of the Planters will chime in shortly. Good luck with the tank and plants.

FF

[naps]

I just don't want it to hurt the roots when they try to grow out...or will there be any issues with me putting in the laterite and the peat...should I fill in the squares with sand and then sprinkle in the laterite and peat...or just put that stuff in the square holes and then layer the pool filter sand on top??

it's the stuff that looks like this...Thanks for any info!!

[Roujin]

I don't think that will be a problem in the long term unless you tend to redo your aquascape at regular intervals. It will be harder to uproot plants when they root through them.

In the past, I cut these up to anchor some plants and it was fine.

[kwc1974]

No, this will not hurt the plants in any way. Make sure to put ample substrate above this (3-4 inches above the grid)

you can fill it in anyway you want, the worst that could happen is creating an anarobic condition and since the grid is low in profile and allows water movement up and down this won't happen (at least not due to the grid)

Some planted tank people use this stuff, others use styrofoam. Styrofoam has a tendancy to create anarobic conditions under it since it will not allow water movement through it. The grid you are using is a better choice in my opinion.

But when it boils down to it, unless I am using really big rocks, I do use anything except the substrate itself. I use Amazonia and it tends to compact under rocks which I find to be a benefit as it will protect the bottom glass from the rock pressure.

[naps]

Thanks!