choice of substrate

silicagel · 12-22-2004, 05:08 AM

Since my first planted tank has been nothing but issues, albeit it has been a learning experience, I've been planning out my next planted tank. My biggest dilemma lies in choosing a substrate.

I've got basically two choices, or at least I think I do.

A. Buy something like Flourite, Eco-complete, Profile, Onyx sand etc. and let that constitute my entire substrate.

B. Use my laterite at the base of the substrate with a little peat, and fill the rest in with an inert sand/gravel. Of course, I'd press in root tabs for the plants that use their roots for reaching nutrients. However, that's where my problem is. I wanted to use some hardy plants like pygmy chainsword, but I'm afraid if I press in root tabs for them then they'll take over the tank. And if I don't, they won't get the nutrients they need to really flourish.

Does anybody know if this plant does well leaching nutrients from the water column?

Rex Grigg · 12-22-2004, 12:22 PM

According to Tom Barr most all aquatic plants would rather take up nutrients from the water column than from the roots.

**SCMurphy** · 12-22-2004, 12:33 PM

Plants sure waste a lot of energy growing those unpreferable and extensive root systems then.

malkore · 12-22-2004, 03:08 PM

remember roots are as much for anchoring as they are for nutrient uptake. I think the jury is still out on which method the majority of plants use for nutrient uptake (not to dismiss any of Mr. Barr's theories)

If it was me, I'd go with Eco-complete. its' as good as flourite, a little prettier, and doesn't have to be rinsed.

trenac · 12-22-2004, 04:52 PM

Go with Eco-complete, its a great all around substrate with no rinsing required. My first planted tank I used Eco-complete and planted Pygmy Chainswords and that is all they needed (no root tabs), after a few months they started spreading every where and I ended up removing them from my tank.

silicagel · 12-22-2004, 09:29 PM

I've got pygmy chainsword in one of my tanks right now. It's not spreading all over the place, but it seems to be growing okay with a warm fluorescent(3000k) and a bit of laterite mixed in. I'm not sure what effect the laterite has had or if it's had any at all, because as I understand it, it takes a while to become allocable to plants and eh.. it's just iron.

I plan on swapping out the bulb to a 6700k and adding a general fertilizer and/or root tab to see what it does.

FISA · 01-13-2005, 10:53 AM

I agree with Trenac.... Eco complete is the way to go !

12-22-2004, 05:08 AM	#1
silicagel Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 58	choice of substrate Since my first planted tank has been nothing but issues, albeit it has been a learning experience, I've been planning out my next planted tank. My biggest dilemma lies in choosing a substrate. I've got basically two choices, or at least I think I do. A. Buy something like Flourite, Eco-complete, Profile, Onyx sand etc. and let that constitute my entire substrate. B. Use my laterite at the base of the substrate with a little peat, and fill the rest in with an inert sand/gravel. Of course, I'd press in root tabs for the plants that use their roots for reaching nutrients. However, that's where my problem is. I wanted to use some hardy plants like pygmy chainsword, but I'm afraid if I press in root tabs for them then they'll take over the tank. And if I don't, they won't get the nutrients they need to really flourish. Does anybody know if this plant does well leaching nutrients from the water column?

12-22-2004, 12:33 PM	#3
SCMurphy PT Biologist (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 3,197	Plants sure waste a lot of energy growing those unpreferable and extensive root systems then. __________________ Sean Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer. It's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot. That IS an aquascape, it's titled "The Vacant Lot".

12-22-2004, 03:08 PM	#4
malkore Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 2,165	remember roots are as much for anchoring as they are for nutrient uptake. I think the jury is still out on which method the majority of plants use for nutrient uptake (not to dismiss any of Mr. Barr's theories) If it was me, I'd go with Eco-complete. its' as good as flourite, a little prettier, and doesn't have to be rinsed. __________________ Malkore Filstar XP2 PIMP #3 Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved

12-22-2004, 04:52 PM	#5
trenac Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Carolina, Traid area Posts: 1,044	Go with Eco-complete, its a great all around substrate with no rinsing required. My first planted tank I used Eco-complete and planted Pygmy Chainswords and that is all they needed (no root tabs), after a few months they started spreading every where and I ended up removing them from my tank. __________________ He who angers you, controls you!

01-13-2005, 10:53 AM	#7
FISA Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (92/100%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: TwinCities Minnesota Posts: 453	I agree with Trenac.... Eco complete is the way to go ! __________________ Ehiem Pimp # 88 ___________________________________ 29 Gallon PC 4WPG,Ehiem 2224 Pro, Pressurized CO2, Power Reactor, Eco Complete 75 Gallon PC 3.5WPG,Ehiem 2226 Pro, Pressurized CO2, Ext Reactor 1000, Eco Complete

12-22-2004, 12:22 PM	#2
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	According to Tom Barr most all aquatic plants would rather take up nutrients from the water column than from the roots.

12-22-2004, 09:29 PM	#6
silicagel Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 58	I've got pygmy chainsword in one of my tanks right now. It's not spreading all over the place, but it seems to be growing okay with a warm fluorescent(3000k) and a bit of laterite mixed in. I'm not sure what effect the laterite has had or if it's had any at all, because as I understand it, it takes a while to become allocable to plants and eh.. it's just iron. I plan on swapping out the bulb to a 6700k and adding a general fertilizer and/or root tab to see what it does.

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