Substrate

[Meg0000]

Hi, I have some questions on substrate:

1.Is it worth it to pay for expensive substrate?

2.eco complete or aquasoil?

3. pool filter sand or sand from pet store?

 

[utahfish]

Hi, I have some questions on substrate:

1.Is it worth it to pay for expensive substrate?

2.eco complete or aquasoil?

3. pool filter sand or sand from pet store?

If you are growing plants things like aqua soil and eco complete do well for about a year than after the nutrients run their course the soil becomes dead and anaerobic and needs to be changed. Where as plain old sand supplemented with root tabs can last for years and years.
Play sand at home depot is about 7dollars for 50 lbs where as sand at the LFS is about 25$ for 20lbs.
Pool filter sand and blasting sand will also be alot cheaper than anything one buys at a fish store. Ive used play sand pool filter sand and blasting sand, though be warned if you use pool filter sand or blasting sand plenty of posters will warn you about their uses especially with corydoras where as play sand is "safer" if you choose a play sand just supplement it with root tabs. Itll save you money in the short term and long run

 

[Meg0000]

If you are growing plants things like aqua soil and eco complete do well for about a year than after the nutrients run their course the soil becomes dead and anaerobic and needs to be changed. Where as plain old sand supplemented with root tabs can last for years and years.
Play sand at home depot is about 7dollars for 50 lbs where as sand at the LFS is about 25$ for 20lbs.
Pool filter sand and blasting sand will also be alot cheaper than anything one buys at a fish store. Ive used play sand pool filter sand and blasting sand, though be warned if you use pool filter sand or blasting sand plenty of posters will warn you about their uses especially with corydoras where as play sand is "safer" if you choose a play sand just supplement it with root tabs. Itll save you money in the short term and long run

Is there a lot of problem with gas pocket in sand? Can MTS resolve the problem? Also I tought eco complete was very good on the long term because it absorbs nutriments from the water and offer them to the roots but I will do more research on that.

 

[wtusa17]

Is there a lot of problem with gas pocket in sand? Can MTS resolve the problem? Also I tought eco complete was very good on the long term because it absorbs nutriments from the water and offer them to the roots but I will do more research on that.

Yes eco complete gets better the more it’s used.

 

[utahfish]

Is there a lot of problem with gas pocket in sand? Can MTS resolve the problem? Also I tought eco complete was very good on the long term because it absorbs nutriments from the water and offer them to the roots but I will do more research on that.

Yup MTS will keep sand from compacting.
If the theory of eco complete is that it will get " better" the longer one has it then i guess it depends on whats in ones water. Fish waste alone isnt enough to grow most plants which is why keepers supplement with a fertilizer. Im not sure exactly how eco complete claims to work all i know is its expensive and sand/gravel with root tabs accomplish the same thing for a lot cheaper.

 

[utahfish]

Is there a lot of problem with gas pocket in sand? Can MTS resolve the problem? Also I tought eco complete was very good on the long term because it absorbs nutriments from the water and offer them to the roots but I will do more research on that.

Ive used eco complete it went toxic after about 2 years and i replaced it with sand.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Hi, I have some questions on substrate:

1.Is it worth it to pay for expensive substrate?

2.eco complete or aquasoil?

3. pool filter sand or sand from pet store?

@Byron has addressed this several times. 1( No, it’s not worth it, 2, 3( Neither.

Get play sand. Pool filter sand is much lighter and can harm the fishes eyes. Play sand is cheap and safe for your fish.

Even if you are growing plants, play sand can tackle this task.

This is my 29g tank. See how good the plants look? I don’t have any of that eco stuff and I don’t use fertilizers.

 

[Meg0000]

Yup MTS will keep sand from compacting.
If the theory of eco complete is that it will get " better" the longer one has it then i guess it depends on whats in ones water. Fish waste alone isnt enough to grow most plants which is why keepers supplement with a fertilizer. Im not sure exactly how eco complete claims to work all i know is its expensive and sand/gravel with root tabs accomplish the same thing for a lot cheaper.

Is there a maximum of inch with sand?

 

[Retired Viking]

I have gravel, I use plant tabs and flourish at 1/2 dosage. I agree with @utahfish and @PheonixKingZ it is not worth it and wears out in a year or two at the most. There are so many plants that take what they need from the water and do not need soil. Plants like Java Fern, anacharis, water sprite and moneywort.

 

[seangee]

Is there a maximum of inch with sand?

If you keep it to an average depth of less than 2 inches you won't have any problems with gas pockets forming.

 

[Meg0000]

@Byron has addressed this several times. 1( No, it’s not worth it, 2, 3( Neither.

Get play sand. Pool filter sand is much lighter and can harm the fishes eyes. Play sand is cheap and safe for your fish.

Even if you are growing plants, play sand can tackle this task.

This is my 29g tank. See how good the plants look? I don’t have any of that eco stuff and I don’t use fertilizers.

Wow good thank you I was about to spend 60+ $ on sand and plant substrate. Can I take any play sand from home depot or places like this?

 

[Meg0000]

If you keep it to an average depth of less than 2 inches you won't have any problems with gas pockets forming.

Good thank you

 

[Retired Viking]

Wow good thank you I was about to spend 60+ $ on sand and plant substrate. Can I take any play sand from home depot or places like this?

I use sand from fleet farm but I think it is all the same.

 

[Meg0000]

Is play sand hard to vacuum?

 

[utahfish]

Is play sand hard to vacuum?

Just swirl the vacumn directly above the sand instead of into it like gravel. Most the debris/waste will be sitting on top of sand instead of between the cracks. If the vac starts sucking up sand just kink it off and start again not swirling too aggressively.