Plant Substrate For Juwel Rio 180

[ATK!!!]

As the title says I am looking for a good quality substrate for a Juwel Rio 180. I intend to go for Liquid Co2 fertiliser instead of the real thing for now and will also be using other plant ferts. Also has anyone got any carpet plants they would reccomend because I am a bit stuck in choosing from the many that are out there!

 

[DiabloSandwich]

Same question from me really too,I'm about to set up a planted tank,and would like a suggestion on which plant substrate to go for.
I looked at the Tetratec one ,but if you have any preferences ?

I wont be using "real" c02 either

Thanks

John.

 

[StandbySetting]

Depends on what you're willing to spend, clay cat litter capped with sand is the cheapest option, and is just as good as some of the other substrates available, obviously if your budget allows you could go ADA if you wished, but there are cheaper options such as eco complete, Oliver Knott's nature soil, Akadama etc.

 

[DiabloSandwich]

Thanks,I'll check them out

 

[stu40]

I've got a Rio 180.It was new so, i'm guessing that you'll have the same T5 lighting.I used a 5.8kg pot of Tetra plant complete.It's been running since Jan, and the Vallis has really taken off.I believe the nutrients only last a year or so.Not used any CO2
yet.

 

[ATK!!!]

Nice looking tank Stu40 Do you have both tubes on? How bright is it really?

 

[stu40]

Couldn't find any recent photos, that one is about a month old.It's got to the stage where i'm starting to thin out the Valls.Mine came with two 45W T5 bulbs.I put the daylight one at the back, and a 'warmlight' one at the front.IMO the warmlight made my Hengli colouring a lot more vivid.The lighting does seem quite bright, but i don't have any other setups to compare it with.However the Bolivians (who are supposed to like more shade) are now out and about.I'm letting the Valls, cover the surface, and may or may not get some floating plants.Don't want to tinker too much and everything seems to be working at the mo.

 

[ATK!!!]

What plants have you got in there? Sounds good but I think I may put so sort of shade over my daylight lamp when I get mine, at first Standby Setting suggested tinfoil but now i think I may get something translucent so that I have a larger range of the spectrum.... I'll have to see when I get the tank itself I suppose

 

[stu40]

Plants that worked well so far
Got Vallis and Amazon swords at the back.
Twisted Vallis to the left side,
Vallis and some sort of Bacopa (monnieri, i think) to the right, in front of filter.It not really getting enough light at the bottom of it, because it's only got leaves on the top half.But it's partially hidden, so not noticeable.
Anubias Barteri nana on the wood.hygrophila polysmera (great plant,grow anywhere,easy to take cuttings).Hygrophila difformis
Dwarf sag is taking, slowly.As is the echinodorus tenellus.
Elodea densa grew very well, till i upped the temperature to 25'C but it's done it's job so I've got rid
Cabomba caroliniana started well for couple of months, then rotted from the bottom up.Just like a lot of peoples'

Looking that lot up, will keep you going for awhile

 

[ATK!!!]

Anubias looks very nice, as does the Dwarf sag.

Whats this plant here?

 

[stu40]

The plant you is circled Hygrophila difformis-Water Wisteria. In my set up it tends to get tall and leggy.That clump is 3-4 stems.I'm trying to layer it now, when one plant gets too tall i just pinch it out.That way it bushes up.Letting it get taller at the back, shorter at front.

 

[ATK!!!]

Thanks mate! I'll look into that too