Substrate

[FKIDN]

Hi everyone, so I am starting a betta tank and having plants. Below I have attached 3 substrates, I was thinking of getting the fluval one, but I am interested into what people think is better, also if anyone could tell me the difference between the two tropica ones pleas, thank you.

 

[FKIDN]

Sorry, I forgot to add the image s

 

[FranciscoB]

I don’t have experience with those specific products. Plants would do just fine with plain sand (not carbonate based) or fine gravel. The products mentioned are good for plants, but unnecessary for small tanks as probably you would use with bettas. They are also pricy and excellent marketing gimmicks.

 

[CassCats]

Not to mention the nutrients do eventually run out and need to be replaced regularly anyways.

To me, they're just not worth the money in the long run. They also limit your fish options as you cannot keep many bottom dwellers on these substrates as they harbor a lot of bacteria and debris that can damage sensitive barbels of catfish and loaches.

 

[MattW]

I have used Stratum previously. I find it great for grow-out pots I use. But as a layer substrate never again. After a few months, the Stratum turned into a fine powder and eventually coated my aquarium in brown dust even clogging my filter at the time. I agree that a plain sand or gravel is a better idea + root tabs for plant food instead.

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

If you use PFS (pool filter sand) it saves,
1 money
2 buying a substrate that includes something more but runs out
etc
It does not need to be washed, carrys BB well, its sand.
Just a thought, I use it in all my tanks!!! Just a extra thing to add to your options

 

[fishorama]

I use pool filter sand often, it's a bit coarser than "play sand" here in the US. But I often like a darker substrate, PFS is often white or pale tan so not my fav. Your tank is small, so don't let cost deter you from what color you like. I've never used it, but Carib Sea Peace River seems like a great choice to me, maybe someday. Larger substrates are harder to plant in & "crap" (fish poo & detritus) can work their way down into it. I bought expensive Eco Complete (not sand, more fine gravel) 20+ years ago & still use it. I like the almost black color.

Soils scare me in some ways. They break down into dust or mud & can cause all kinds of trouble. I've only used old Aqua Soil in an experimental plant grow out tank. I won't being trying it again, although the few plants seemed happy.

Any substrate can work, but bigger sand or smaller gravel is easier to clean & to plant in. Too fine can be a dusty/muddy mess. Don't worry about having "starter" bacteria, like Cass said, it doesn't last. I think I told you I use root tab fertilizers for most plants.

Pick a substrate you like the color & size of & work with it.

 

[Lateral Line]

Swimming pool filter sand was also my eventual substrate of choice. I'd done gravel for decades, but wanted to get more into planted.

 

[Uberhoust]

I used the tropica soil a few years back. I found it worked quite well at first, but if you have to work with it or change things its structure breaks down easily. Plants grew very well in it. I recommend that you put it in before the water (without rinsing), I did not do this, and it took weeks for the cloudiness to settle.

After about a year the rapid plant growth slowed, and I started to get more nutrient type issues like cyanobacteria. In the end I came to the conclusion that it is more appropriate for mostly plant setups but not setups that have a reasonable fish population. Removing it from the tank made it obvious that it had broken down quite a bit. I now use sand or fine gravel along with root tabs, easier to maintain but the plants did do better with the soil.