Substrate

mr glass · 04-07-2010, 05:39 PM

I have no idea what to use for substrate. I really want dwarf hair grass too.

NursePlaty · 04-07-2010, 08:16 PM

If you want to save money you can use Mineralized Soil. You can grow any plant with it and it lasts a very long time without having to add macro and micro nutrients. But the fallback is when you unroot a plant, it clouds the water because of the mud that is under the gravel. I heard Aqua soil from ADA is also very good. There are a few otheres but I cant remember them off the top of my head.

jeffro0050 · 04-08-2010, 02:55 PM

I'm trying a really cheap substrate recipe that I found on the web. I'll let you know if it works out.

Dmaaaaax · 04-08-2010, 03:15 PM

Cheapest substrate is non-scented/dyed cat litter (100% clay) and some peet under a layer of gravel. People have also used some brand named topsoil (without NPK) with some success.

Next would be the mineralized soil since it takes a few weeks/month to get right...and good weather.

If you don't mind paying for substrate go with Flourite from Seachem, Eco-complete, or that ADA soil (several varieties).

Mr_Pat · 04-14-2010, 02:55 AM

hmmm im kind of looking at all these diffrent things i see for substrates .. i dont have a ton of cash to throw around myself. but i do have some left over sand and gravel from previous tanks ..

Im not sure if anyone near me actually caries the ADA stuff. Sorry new to this whole planted tank thing .. tried a couple times with my old gravel tanks < shoulda researched first> lols only 2 plants i did well with were duckweed and java moss

James0816 · 04-14-2010, 08:07 AM

Well...one thing first off...if you want DHG...don't even consider gravel.

Cat litter eh? I can't even fathom that one. ;o)

A good alternative is Turface...formally known as SMS.

I have a tank with Florite in it and not very impressed with it. I'll be pulling that out at some point.

04-07-2010, 05:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
mr glass Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 18 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Substrate I have no idea what to use for substrate. I really want dwarf hair grass too.

04-07-2010, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 932 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 186 Times in 180 Posts	Re: Substrate If you want to save money you can use Mineralized Soil. You can grow any plant with it and it lasts a very long time without having to add macro and micro nutrients. But the fallback is when you unroot a plant, it clouds the water because of the mud that is under the gravel. I heard Aqua soil from ADA is also very good. There are a few otheres but I cant remember them off the top of my head. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

04-08-2010, 02:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
jeffro0050 jeffro0050's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 149 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 36 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Substrate I'm trying a really cheap substrate recipe that I found on the web. I'll let you know if it works out.

04-08-2010, 03:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dmaaaaax Dmaaaaax's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 756 Location: North Carolina Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 21 Times Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 183 Times in 154 Posts	Re: Substrate Cheapest substrate is non-scented/dyed cat litter (100% clay) and some peet under a layer of gravel. People have also used some brand named topsoil (without NPK) with some success. Next would be the mineralized soil since it takes a few weeks/month to get right...and good weather. If you don't mind paying for substrate go with Flourite from Seachem, Eco-complete, or that ADA soil (several varieties). __________________ --->Pictures of my 75g Amazon tank<----

04-14-2010, 02:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mr_Pat Mr_Pat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 243 My location Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 93 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 58 Times in 57 Posts	Re: Substrate hmmm im kind of looking at all these diffrent things i see for substrates .. i dont have a ton of cash to throw around myself. but i do have some left over sand and gravel from previous tanks .. Im not sure if anyone near me actually caries the ADA stuff. Sorry new to this whole planted tank thing .. tried a couple times with my old gravel tanks < shoulda researched first> lols only 2 plants i did well with were duckweed and java moss __________________ MR_Pat 90 Gallon Community Tank Planted , Cherry Shrimp tank planted, 75 Gallon Turtle Tank with an FX5, 195 Gallon Tank home of LiL sis our Reticulated Python

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04-14-2010, 08:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,455 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 526 Times in 454 Posts	Re: Substrate Well...one thing first off...if you want DHG...don't even consider gravel. Cat litter eh? I can't even fathom that one. ;o) A good alternative is Turface...formally known as SMS. I have a tank with Florite in it and not very impressed with it. I'll be pulling that out at some point.

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