I'm having a go at a 54 litre planted tank but am unsure what substrate to use. Whats the best substrate?

Sorry if this question has been asked a zillion times.

im about to setup a planted tank too.

i got a base called aquatic mix from a garden center(its a clay mix) and then sand on top. its quite a dark colour and only costed $4 for a big bag.

Sand is good, and looks nicer in my opinion. Darker substrate looks better too cos it contrasts with the fish/plants' colours. You can go to a nearby river (if you have one) and just take the sand from there, it's lightly coloured, but still looks nice.

Just becareful to not get too finer sand, otyherwise you will end up with it everywhere.

we use "Daltons Propogating Sand" Which is a fine gravel/coarse sand and the plants love it.

It is designed for frowing cuttings in out of water and is easy for the plant roots to push through.

I also suspect that there is a fairly healthy iron content in it, as we never fertilise or use c02 and have no probs with growth.

Bout $6.95 from the warehouse.

B

And pick up a bag of dalton aquatic mix at the same time, chuck that in first then the sand and no problem growing plants!

where to get dalton aquatic mix? and sand also? i presume you have to clean and rinse it properly though??

Shiuh, you don't rinse the aquatic mix as that washes away all of the useful fertilisers in it. You do need to rinse the sand though. When the sand is sitting on top of the aquatic mix, all the ferts in the aquatic mix cannot get into the water so you don't end up with a cloudy tank.

oh right. thats makes life easier. but then if you were to plant a plant...do you push the roots deep enough to reach aquatic mix? or just at sand level.

It doesn't matter really, I guess you would just go to sand level as to not disturb the aquatic mix and get a puff of ferts coming up into the water. The roots will soon grow into it.

Thanks for the replys. I'll try Daltons aquatic mix and propogating sand.

im a newbie as well and im going do the planted tank as well , where do you buy daltons sand?

im a newbie as well and im going do the planted tank as well , where do you buy daltons sand?

Bunnings has it or gardening centres should too, its really good and i recommend it too!!!!

there is no bunnings here , what about mitre 10 , red shed ?

thanks for a quick reply

any garden supply type store

I'm having a go at a 54 litre planted tank but am unsure what substrate to use. Whats the best substrate?

Sorry if this question has been asked a zillion times.

Here is my mix - as long as the clay mix never makes it to the top you are fine - be careful with your gravel vacume.

You can sort of see the layers in this image as well.

cheers

chris

Here is my mix - as long as the clay mix never makes it to the top you are fine - chris

what will happen if the clay mix does may it to the top

what will happen if the clay mix does may it to the top

I assume nothing bad, but dirty water certainly.

I have broken through a few times and put more gravel/sand back on top.

I do not think it is bad, but just can kae your water bad.

Chris

this:

courtesy of a naughty male bristlenose

with a possible algae bloom to boot afterwards from the nutrient spike :lol:

this:

courtesy of a naughty male bristlenose

with a possible algae bloom to boot afterwards from the nutrient spike :lol:

Well that is a bad example - you must have seriously broken through!

Chris

mr bristles went right thru to the bottom (he didnt get any loving looks/words for a few days after that one). his pit was around 15cm long and 4cm wide :evil: i dont have any stones on top though (1cm aquatic mix, 2-3cm of sand) so thats why it is so easy for it to be exposed in my tank so i was asking for it haha. luckily hes given up digging in new spots, only digs in his cave now which has no aquatic mix anymore :lol:

oh ok thanks for that. i was just worried that it may harm the fish

ok .. hmm, Ive just put aquatic mix in my 75l tank with stones on top... with lots of plants that are growing happily... and was thinking about a bristlenose... so they dig lots and need softer sandy substrate - not so good for a planted tank then?

They'll only dig if you give them a soft substrate. They dont need a soft substrate, and they dont need to dig either.

Cheers for that