Substrates?

[ir0n_ma1den]

hi everybody, I am going to start a 55g planted tank and am asking do i need to have a speacil substrate or can i just use regular gravel??

 

[three-fingers]

Regular gravel will be OK with some plants, but you will get MUCH more success with a good plant substrate, like ADA aquasoil or ecocomplete.
You can also get plant substrates that you put underneath the gravel. If you go that route make sure you use very small grains of gravel .
You can browse good substrates at www.aquaessentials.co.uk.

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

Regular gravel will be OK with some plants, but you will get MUCH more success with a good plant substrate, like ADA aquasoil or ecocomplete.
You can also get plant substrates that you put underneath the gravel. If you go that route make sure you use very small grains of gravel .
You can browse good substrates at www.aquaessentials.co.uk.

how much of it would i need for a 55 gallon tank?

 

[SuperColey1]

Regular gravel will be OK with some plants, but you will get MUCH more success with a good plant substrate, like ADA aquasoil or ecocomplete.
You can also get plant substrates that you put underneath the gravel. If you go that route make sure you use very small grains of gravel .
You can browse good substrates at www.aquaessentials.co.uk.

how much of it would i need for a 55 gallon tank?

At a guess 10KG (5.8KG gave me about 1.5cm) Then I used 15KG of playsand on top

this is in a 29G High

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

do i have to use sand ontop of the special fert. substrate or can i use gravel? i dislike sand

 

[SuperColey1]

do i have to use sand ontop of the special fert. substrate or can i use gravel? i dislike sand

You can use gravel, but bear in mind that dependant on the type of macro Nutrient base layer you use, it may seep through the gaps in the gravel and make your water cloudy.

The sand is so fine it is like a barrier against this, whilst the roots of the plants can get to it.

Sand is great. why don't you like it. If you have plecs or corries or other bottom dwellers they will absolutely love it, they will be out more and you will see them playing a lot.

 

[ir0n_ma1den]

i dont really know why i dont like it. I guess its because you can really clean it as it will get sucked in the syphon and becasue i have heard people having filter problems because of sand. I am going to buy a Rena xp3, so if anyone has one and uses sand please tell if the Rena xp3 can stand it.

 

[Fillet 'O' Fish]

I dont know if this will be of use to you if you want to keep your gravel but still have plant substrate ( as i did)

Adding Tropica Plant substrate to a mature gravel substrate tank

 

[Castellop123]

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