What do I need?

Fallen_Nightmare · 09-24-2012, 04:44 AM

Hey everyone! I am looking into turning my tank into a planted tank. I have a filter, lighting, a heater, and a DIY CO2 system. What would I need to use for substrate? I already have gravel that I plan to mix in with the plant substrate to make it higher in some places. What type of substrate do you guys suggest? I am going to a fish store that are all about fish this weekend and need a list of supplies. Is EcoComplete good to use?

**l8nite** · 09-24-2012, 06:33 AM

I have eco-complete in my 5G Betta tank, and I would only recommend it if it was cheap for you to obtain. It's good stuff, and my plants seem to like it, but I think it's too coarse and some of it is magnetic, so it sticks to my magnetic thermometer and scratches the acrylic in my tank...

I really like this stuff I just put in my new 10G tank, called CaribSea Super Naturals - found it at petsmart, and it's like a black sand.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=3956163

It's very pretty and plants seem to hold well in it. Good luck with your tank! Start reading and get ready to be blown away by the amount of information on this forum! I'd also recommend starting a tank journal thread -- it's been a lot of help having random people come in and comment on things going on with my tanks

Fallen_Nightmare · 09-24-2012, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8nite

I have eco-complete in my 5G Betta tank, and I would only recommend it if it was cheap for you to obtain. It's good stuff, and my plants seem to like it, but I think it's too coarse and some of it is magnetic, so it sticks to my magnetic thermometer and scratches the acrylic in my tank...

I really like this stuff I just put in my new 10G tank, called CaribSea Super Naturals - found it at petsmart, and it's like a black sand.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=3956163

It's very pretty and plants seem to hold well in it. Good luck with your tank! Start reading and get ready to be blown away by the amount of information on this forum! I'd also recommend starting a tank journal thread -- it's been a lot of help having random people come in and comment on things going on with my tanks

I just called my local petsmart and they said that they have many different types of that substrate. Do you suggest having that type of substrate with another type? Or will root tabs and that type of substrate be fine alone? Did you use just Suprer Naturals or did you add something else to it?
I plan to make a tank journal thread once I get the supplies, it looks interesting. Thank you for your help. Anyone else have an idea?

I was first looking at this:
http://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-C.../dp/B0002DH0QM

Seattle_Aquarist · 09-24-2012, 03:21 PM

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=153412

Fallen_Nightmare · 09-24-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle_Aquarist

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=153412

Thank you!

Fallen_Nightmare · 09-26-2012, 03:55 AM

Does this combination go well together?
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2753891
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=3956163

I want to use sand for my loach but also want plants to grow. What do you guys think?

**l8nite** · 09-26-2012, 05:01 AM

Plants will grow fine in either of those. Keep in mind if you're mixing substrates that they won't stay "separate" for long. Water changes, fish, moving plants around when you're not happy with them, etc, will all cause the substrate to shift around. I think that even if that happens, those two will look pretty cool together.

Fallen_Nightmare · 09-26-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l8nite

Plants will grow fine in either of those. Keep in mind if you're mixing substrates that they won't stay "separate" for long. Water changes, fish, moving plants around when you're not happy with them, etc, will all cause the substrate to shift around. I think that even if that happens, those two will look pretty cool together.

I think I'll use the Sand Substrate because I have gravel to make hills too. I didn't see that CaribSea was a substrate, so plants will grow in it.

Curt_914 · 09-26-2012, 05:46 PM

Just my 2 cents. I have used just about every planted tank substraight there is out there. It all depends on the types of plants you want to grow. Florite is a very good substraight but I dont like it very much for corys or loachs. The Caribsea flora max is also good but very similar to florite. If your not doing a whole lot of moving around the Caribsea Supernaturals is there Tahitian moon sand or a black sand. I like it very much just add root tabs for your root feeders. It is a good size and dosent seem to irritate the skin on the corries or loachs I have kept.

Of course if price is no issue I would go with ADA Aquasoil all day. Most all of my tanks will eventually be convertied to that or the " Dirty Tank Method" where you use a poting soil caped with a gravel. Most all my tanks are long term tanks as I dont like to keep pulling things up.

good luck and let us know what your doing.
Curt

Fallen_Nightmare · 09-26-2012, 10:20 PM

Okay thanks!

Fallen_Nightmare · 09-29-2012, 10:39 PM

Just to keep you all updated, I decided to go with regular gravel then add root tabs and keep a constant supply of Co2. Ill post photos soon. There are no plants in there, I wanted to wait a while untill I decided to buy plants.

09-24-2012, 04:44 AM	#1
Fallen_Nightmare Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: USA Posts: 18	What do I need? Hey everyone! I am looking into turning my tank into a planted tank. I have a filter, lighting, a heater, and a DIY CO2 system. What would I need to use for substrate? I already have gravel that I plan to mix in with the plant substrate to make it higher in some places. What type of substrate do you guys suggest? I am going to a fish store that are all about fish this weekend and need a list of supplies. Is EcoComplete good to use?

09-24-2012, 06:33 AM	#2
l8nite Zombie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 682	I have eco-complete in my 5G Betta tank, and I would only recommend it if it was cheap for you to obtain. It's good stuff, and my plants seem to like it, but I think it's too coarse and some of it is magnetic, so it sticks to my magnetic thermometer and scratches the acrylic in my tank... I really like this stuff I just put in my new 10G tank, called CaribSea Super Naturals - found it at petsmart, and it's like a black sand. http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=3956163 It's very pretty and plants seem to hold well in it. Good luck with your tank! Start reading and get ready to be blown away by the amount of information on this forum! I'd also recommend starting a tank journal thread -- it's been a lot of help having random people come in and comment on things going on with my tanks __________________ HANdS: 110G Community, 10G Fry Containment Unit, 7.5G ADA Bettascape, 2.3G Moss Recovery Unit, 2G Fluval Spec

09-24-2012, 03:21 PM	#4
Seattle_Aquarist Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (25/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,025	http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=153412 __________________ *Roy* 45 Gallon Tall; 96 Watt AH Supply CF; 6700K; & 30 Gallon Long; 2X36 Watt AH Supply CF; Press. CO2; UGF; Heat Treated Montmorillonite Clay Greater Seattle Aquarium Society (GSAS)

09-26-2012, 05:01 AM	#7
l8nite Zombie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 682	Plants will grow fine in either of those. Keep in mind if you're mixing substrates that they won't stay "separate" for long. Water changes, fish, moving plants around when you're not happy with them, etc, will all cause the substrate to shift around. I think that even if that happens, those two will look pretty cool together. __________________ HANdS: 110G Community, 10G Fry Containment Unit, 7.5G ADA Bettascape, 2.3G Moss Recovery Unit, 2G Fluval Spec

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09-26-2012, 03:55 AM	#6
Fallen_Nightmare Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: USA Posts: 18	Does this combination go well together? http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2753891 http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=3956163 I want to use sand for my loach but also want plants to grow. What do you guys think?

09-26-2012, 05:46 PM	#9
Curt_914 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 290	Just my 2 cents. I have used just about every planted tank substraight there is out there. It all depends on the types of plants you want to grow. Florite is a very good substraight but I dont like it very much for corys or loachs. The Caribsea flora max is also good but very similar to florite. If your not doing a whole lot of moving around the Caribsea Supernaturals is there Tahitian moon sand or a black sand. I like it very much just add root tabs for your root feeders. It is a good size and dosent seem to irritate the skin on the corries or loachs I have kept. Of course if price is no issue I would go with ADA Aquasoil all day. Most all of my tanks will eventually be convertied to that or the " Dirty Tank Method" where you use a poting soil caped with a gravel. Most all my tanks are long term tanks as I dont like to keep pulling things up. good luck and let us know what your doing. Curt

09-26-2012, 10:20 PM	#10
Fallen_Nightmare Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: USA Posts: 18	Okay thanks!

09-29-2012, 10:39 PM	#11
Fallen_Nightmare Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: USA Posts: 18	Just to keep you all updated, I decided to go with regular gravel then add root tabs and keep a constant supply of Co2. Ill post photos soon. There are no plants in there, I wanted to wait a while untill I decided to buy plants.