pugsby Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucid Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meesheelly Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiuh Posted December 4, 2006 Report Share Posted December 4, 2006 where to get dalton aquatic mix? and sand also? i presume you have to clean and rinse it properly though?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiuh Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugsby Posted December 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Thanks for the replys. I'll try Daltons aquatic mix and propogating sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stimpy29 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 im a newbie as well and im going do the planted tank as well , where do you buy daltons sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTam22 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 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!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stimpy29 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 there is no bunnings here , what about mitre 10 , red shed ? thanks for a quick reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meesheelly Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 any garden supply type store Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelzie Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 this: courtesy of a naughty male bristlenose with a possible algae bloom to boot afterwards from the nutrient spike :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 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: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelzie Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 oh ok thanks for that. i was just worried that it may harm the fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1familiarfish Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 They'll only dig if you give them a soft substrate. They dont need a soft substrate, and they dont need to dig either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1familiarfish Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Cheers for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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