Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

[Paleoguy]

A good New Year poll:

What do YOU use for your planted tank substrata?

I'm cheap-I use good old top soil from Wally Mart sifted and moistened prior to planting. TOP SOIL NOT POTTING SOIL OR SOIL MIX!!!!! Form a pile in the center of the tank about two inches deep (depends on the size of the tank)  leaving an inch or two around the front and sides. Place your large rooted plants in their final positions then add your smaller plants. Add 2-3 inches of aquarium gravel or sand (washed of course) and work it around the plants bringing the crowns up to the proper level. Add small plants careful not to disturbe the dirt too much. Add water and patience! DO NOT ADD FISH UNTIL THE TANK CYCLES! AVOID LARGE DIGGER FISH!

This method works for some people but is a giant diaster for others. When it works it is fantastic! I suggest playing around with a tall 20 before doing your monster tanks!
                                                                 
                                                                       :emtthumbs:

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

You know that's old school.   In the 70's we used a mixture of potting soil (w/pearlite) and peat covered with a layer of newspaper and another layer of sandblast sand.   Worked great for a year and then when you tried to clean the gravel the whole tank went cloudy with mud & muck.

Now I just use natural gravel and fish poop..... and a lot of light.
but I think this year I will play with a bit of DIY CO[sub:6e8360ede2]2[/sub:6e8360ede2]
I will make it with honey and wine yeast and even if it doesn't help the plants, I'll enjoy disposing of the mixture.  

[mahoro]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

ewww, don't play with diy co2, not worth it at all, unless u got some nano tank going....

[algarciajr]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

but I think this year I will play with a bit of DIY CO[sub:f9f0401af2]2[/sub:f9f0401af2]
I will make it with honey and wine yeast and even if it doesn't help the plants, I'll enjoy disposing of the mixture.  

I tried the diy c02 for a 10 gallon tank and it worked wonders. I just lost interest in the planted tanks.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

well, I just need an excuse to make Mead.  
I have a 3 gal. bottle, check valves, difuser and more than a few good recipes.............

[armthehomeless]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

I use Aquasoil in my planted tanks.

I've used Fluorite, Potting Soil, Flora Base, and PFS in the past.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

ADA Aquasoil and powersand.... pressurized co2.


Would not set up a planted tank without the two.

[mahoro]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

i used AS with PS in 2 of my tanks, i think its way over rated, the plants in my seachem fluorite + fluorite ferts is doing way better then the as tank, and i can clean it much better/easiler then AS...  i won't be getting anymore AS in the future...

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

That's some harsh words without giving us details of the two tanks...

[Bogdan]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

Just natural gravel + blasting sand + DIY CO2, works great for me.

[mahoro]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

well, the 3 bags of AS i got from city pets was mostly crushed, which back then i didn't know it wasn't suppost to be like that, everytime i plant stuff, the whole tank would be all dusty, maybe in the near future i might try AS again, but as of now i would stay away from it...

[manifresh006]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

AS,Seachem fluorite,Eco Complete,Soil mixture with Sand,Gravel,First Layer Pure Laterite with Gravel and about to try the AquariumPlants.com substrate

Over all First Layer Pure Laterite with Gravel was GREAT for large aquarium should do good with small tanks too,AS AWESOME if not THE BEST for small tanks not so good with large tanks so much dust dirt flying around after cleaning,ECO was alright,Sand does horrible because of all the air that gets trapped under will see how the one from AP.com does

Just my opinion :wink:

[wesleydnunder]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

I have fluorite in three tanks...really like it except some of the grains are a little large. I have Onyx in one tank...no problems at all with it. I have Soil Master Select in two tanks...the plants love it but I find it lightweight and it gets kind of muddy after a couple years. I have blasting sand in two tanks and I like it best of all the types.

Mark

[spyke1969]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

Where's the poll?

[Navarro]

Re: Poll on substrata for planted tanks:

For those who have been around long enough to try everything there is out there probably have to agree that this subject can be controversial.
I have been messing with pretty much everything you can possibly think of and then some, so in my experience the substrates that can keep providing nutrients the longest are best for planted aquariums.
Now, there are all kinds of aquatic plant keepers out there, some are in to aquascaping others collect rare plants and some just don’t care about the plants but they understand that their rare fish do much better when they are present, so they bother to learn more about this matter.
The soil plated aquarium is the easiest cheapest way to start a planted aquarium. Who doest it work? Well you buy top soil (organic) and cap it with your favorite gravel for the most part. There are many out there who add an extra thing or two to make it work better; it will last a good while if you maintain the tank properly, unfortunately if you keep spp. that have complex root systems like Nympheas, Echinodorus, Ottelias, Cryptocorines, Crinums etc, etc. they will get the best of the soil pretty quick and the use of fertilization tabs will be required.
The laterite mix:
Also cheap easy to use and set up but the same problem as the soil substrate, soon the use of root tabs will be needed and the spp. plants one can keep will be limited, unless water conditions are adequate and fertilization of the water column is close to perfect.
The mineralized soil.
The best there is when it comes to soil substrates I can write hours about this method but I think is best if you do research not only to understand it but to see how it prepared is.
The only thing I can say about this method is that unlike any other substrate out there this can last for years and NO fertilization other than occasional K will be needed ever.
Plants will grow beautiful and will display the best red coloration you will ever see due to the fact that the water column is very lean.
Flourite and Onyx sand:
Not very clean to work with but very efficient; Flourite is I think the best they support a healthy colony of bacteria and release small amount of Fe to the root system unfortunately if you have a high tech tank this will not be enough and the addition of fertilizers and root tabs are a most, it is neutral and the only thing I never liked is the texture of it is rather sharp.
Onyx sand:
Very good as well; this substrate is perfect for planted tanks for fish and true planted tanks. Problem are the same you will get with any other sand like substrate, it will compact over time so this can create dead spots in it.
Because is rich in CaCo3 it will provide a source of carbon for true aquatic plants like Vallisneria; but it will increase your KH and unless you are doing some sort of an African or Central American biotope this can be a problem here in Houston.
The Aquasoils:
The best for short and long term planted aquarium designs; if you are in to aquascaping there is nothing better out there as far as I am concerned. There is a problem many have with the consistency of this substrate but once you understand who it works the reward is great. It will lower the KH and Ph of your water allowing the plants to assimilate the carbon easier.
The growth is outstanding and can stay like that for months before there the need to add liquid fertilizers, the best part is that you can grow even the most difficult plants in it unlike many other substrates out there.
Eco-complete:
Nice clean affordable substrate the company who sell it inoculates the substrate with bacteria for an easy start. My only problem using it is the fact that it will increase your KH even when they say it will not.
FloraBase:
Similar to the Aquasoils but not as rich as Amazonia, perfect for Cryptocorines.
Cheers,
Luis Navarro