Under Substrate Heating.....

[George Farmer]

Fish health issues aside substrate heating has little effect on plant growth. Fact.

Decent plant growth prevents too much anaerobic build-up (some is necessary).

Obviously in a non-planted, or lightly planted tank then the dynamics are entirely different and I can understand the logic behind the usefullness of substrate heating.

Just my 2 pence.

(I write for PFK too).

 

[voo]

Why not use malaysian trumpet snails to stir the sand for you, thus preventing the air pockets building up?
Or you could use some burrowing fish? I went to my lfs and they had some eels (cant remember their name, but very simlar to kuhli loaches but thinner), and they burrow in the sand. All i could see were a load of heads poking out of the sand

 

[Sp00ky]

Why not use malaysian trumpet snails to stir the sand for you, thus preventing the air pockets building up?
Or you could use some burrowing fish? I went to my lfs and they had some eels (cant remember their name, but very simlar to kuhli loaches but thinner), and they burrow in the sand. All i could see were a load of heads poking out of the sand

interesting idea.... got any names so i can check they will be ok with the corys?

 

[voo]

I'm not sure of their proper name. I think mine were called pink eel loaches. I had a quick search but couldnt find anything.
I would say they'd be fine with corys. Mine are in a community tank with kuhli loaches and their behavious is pretty similar - hiding most of the time. I rarely see mine.

I dunno how successful you'd be at finding them though, i've only seen them at this shop. If you were seriously interested in them i could *try* taking a photo. It's kinda hard as they hide under the wood, and when in the open they soon dart for cover. Maybe then someone could give their proper name.

 

[sub.42]

Okay, now my two-penneth worth aswell.

I have been using a low wattage UGH element for nearly a year now. With the exception of the hottest days this year (36DegC) it has never overheated my tank, has improved my crypt root mass by around 25%, and has improved my micro-swords growth rate by at least half. I use micro gravel, laterite, JBL florapol and Aquabasis, mixed with sand aswell. If used with all of the essential elements for good plant growth, it will, in my opinion, help to promote better roots. But it might just be me...

sub.

 

[Goldfiinger]

unless you want to pay big bucks they don`t come with a thermo stat and so just stay on permanently thusly over heating your tank.

your being way to over paranoid about the pockets dude, i haven`t had the slightest hin of anything like that in my tank and its been running with an inch and a half to 2 and a half inches of sand for 7 months now

found one that will do it all with thermostat for £40.00 for the size of tank!

WINNER !!

You got a link to that m8 ?

 

[Sp00ky]

unless you want to pay big bucks they don`t come with a thermo stat and so just stay on permanently thusly over heating your tank.

your being way to over paranoid about the pockets dude, i haven`t had the slightest hin of anything like that in my tank and its been running with an inch and a half to 2 and a half inches of sand for 7 months now

found one that will do it all with thermostat for £40.00 for the size of tank!

WINNER !!

You got a link to that m8 ?

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z040138.asp

there you go mate