Substrates

[Leprae]

I've been away from the Box for a while and have no idea what happened to the planted tanks forum. While doing a long-overdue water change on my 20g planted tank earlier, I got to thinking about substrates and wondered what everyone's preferences are. In the interest of adding a new thread to this horribly thinned-out section of the forums, let's hear everyone's thoughts on substrates for planted tanks.

If you ask around enough, you'll hear everything from gravel to sand and backyard dirt to specially produced (and often expensive) bags of substrate you can buy at the store.

Personally, I'm stubborn and want my playsand to work. I've had limited success with it in the past, most notably with lillies, though my success is not always reproducible. Obvious issues with playsand involve lack of nutrients, compaction, lack of aeration, and ultimately "dead zones" within the substrate. I still think this can be (and is) a viable substrate, though it is not without its issues. I just wish I could make it work for me more of the time.

[finfan]

for rootfeeder plants, the best substrate imho is aquasoil

[jeb102385]

i use the stuff aquariumplants.com makes and i have had good luck with it

[manifresh006]

i use the stuff aquariumplants.com makes and i have had good luck with it

+1 Its awesome

[andrewh]

Well I've actually been doing some research into this subject myself and here is some interesting information .

Here's the nitrogen break down within the tank:
ammonia (poo, food, and organic matter) -> nitrite -> nitrate

The bacteria break it down like this: NH3 (ammonia) -> NO2- (nitrites) -> NO3- (nitrates).

You end up with a negatively charged nitrate molecule. Surprising enough the clay based substrates naturally have a positive charge. The result is, the nitrites and nitrates are pulled out of the water column and stored in the substrate, which is exactly where most plants need them. Not to mention it'll also help the fish stay healthier since there's not as much "toxin" in the water.

I personally use Soil Master Select @ $13 for 50# and love the stuff! But almost any clay based substrate should have the same effect.

HTH

[wesleydnunder]

I use SMS in a couple tanks. The only thing I don't like about it is that it gets muddy after a while. I also use fluorite and onyx...i really like both and the plants do great. Fine sand didn't work for me. I think it compacts too densely. I haven't tried aquasoil, Eco complete or many others so have no reference for them other than anecdotal.

Mark

[andrewh]

I had Eco in a planted 10 gallon and it worked pretty good, but at $1+ per pound it wasnt' very practice for larger tanks IMHO (the $24, 20 lbs bag I bought was perfect for that 10 gallon).

One of my LFS has a sand bottom planted tank (has lots of tall vals), but the sand is 4" to 5" deep. I wonder if that makes a big difference when using sand (guess I'll ask them the next time I stop in ).

[wesleydnunder]

Deep sand beds easily form anaerobic pockets where H2S and other nasties can form. When released into the tank, they can devastate livestock.

Mark

[andrewh]

^
That was my thought as well (and I've seen it happen several times), but this particular tank has been up and running for at least 6 years and the substrate seems the same as day one (meaning the substrate is never disturbed).

Seems to work in that tank, but not the typical results I see with that substrate .