Cheap Planting Substrate

Plantlet · 07-07-2012, 05:30 AM

I have a 5 gallon tank. It currently has gravel, but I'm looking for something better to help my plants grow. It has 7 watts of lighting, so thats 1.4 watts per gallon. The plants in there are a moss ball, two java fern, two amazon sword, and two aponogeton.

I'm just looking for a little extra boost for my plants. I currently just use some Aqueon Plant Food which is a liquid fertilizer. I'm wondering if there is any cheap substrate, I've heard of Miracle Gro Organic Potting Mix?

Diana · 07-07-2012, 05:35 AM

For a 5 gallon tank even the most expensive substrate is almost 'dirt' cheap!

Anyway, yes, Miracle Grow is a reasonable product. Read the other posts here about all sorts of alternatives.

If there is an aquarium club near you maybe someone would want to split a bag of something with you. Most bagged products come in a bag that is large enough for 2 or more tanks your size.

aweeby · 07-07-2012, 09:21 AM

might want to add that you should cap the soil with a fine gravel or sand.

shinycard255 · 07-07-2012, 01:00 PM

I use MGOPM in 4 tanks now, and all are capped with either sand or gravel. I would honestly say go with sand as it makes for a tighter cap, especially when pulling plants out and will make the dirt stay under the sand better than gravel will when pulling plants out. I'm starting up another tank and I'm going to be using Blasting Media from my local hardware store as the cap for my MGOPM. Without a cap, the dirt will just get blown around in your tank and make a mess, and you don't want that. You could also use Pool Filter Sand or Play Sand as your cap as well

If you don't want to go the MGOPM route, you can get Eco-Complete which has a high CEC and that stuff should last you for a few tanks that size

Plantlet · 07-07-2012, 09:56 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to do the organic potting mix and cap it off with playsand.

Diana · 07-07-2012, 11:42 PM

Don't use play sand. It has too many fines and can cloud the water.

Pool filter sand is good, or any other material that has been graded to remove the fines.

angelsword · 07-08-2012, 02:12 AM

My play sand tanks are crystal clear. You just need to rinse it really well to get the small particles and any dust out.

07-07-2012, 05:30 AM	#1
Plantlet Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 31	Cheap Planting Substrate I have a 5 gallon tank. It currently has gravel, but I'm looking for something better to help my plants grow. It has 7 watts of lighting, so thats 1.4 watts per gallon. The plants in there are a moss ball, two java fern, two amazon sword, and two aponogeton. I'm just looking for a little extra boost for my plants. I currently just use some Aqueon Plant Food which is a liquid fertilizer. I'm wondering if there is any cheap substrate, I've heard of Miracle Gro Organic Potting Mix?

07-07-2012, 09:21 AM	#3
aweeby Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 993	might want to add that you should cap the soil with a fine gravel or sand. __________________ RAOK club #37 5.5g Iwagumi \| Mini-S \| Emersed Plant Dump\| 20g Shrimp Tank

07-07-2012, 01:00 PM	#4
shinycard255 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chicagoland Area Posts: 1,381	I use MGOPM in 4 tanks now, and all are capped with either sand or gravel. I would honestly say go with sand as it makes for a tighter cap, especially when pulling plants out and will make the dirt stay under the sand better than gravel will when pulling plants out. I'm starting up another tank and I'm going to be using Blasting Media from my local hardware store as the cap for my MGOPM. Without a cap, the dirt will just get blown around in your tank and make a mess, and you don't want that. You could also use Pool Filter Sand or Play Sand as your cap as well If you don't want to go the MGOPM route, you can get Eco-Complete which has a high CEC and that stuff should last you for a few tanks that size __________________ *The Fraternity of Dirt #42* Who would have thought that plants like dirt?! Tanks: 60G \| 5.5G \| Evolve4 Last edited by shinycard255; 07-07-2012 at 01:02 PM.. Reason: :)

07-08-2012, 02:12 AM	#7
angelsword Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 421	My play sand tanks are crystal clear. You just need to rinse it really well to get the small particles and any dust out. __________________ Malaysian Trumpet Snails: JUST SAY NO!

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07-07-2012, 05:35 AM	#2
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,083	For a 5 gallon tank even the most expensive substrate is almost 'dirt' cheap! Anyway, yes, Miracle Grow is a reasonable product. Read the other posts here about all sorts of alternatives. If there is an aquarium club near you maybe someone would want to split a bag of something with you. Most bagged products come in a bag that is large enough for 2 or more tanks your size.

07-07-2012, 09:56 PM	#5
Plantlet Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 31	Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to do the organic potting mix and cap it off with playsand.

07-07-2012, 11:42 PM	#6
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,083	Don't use play sand. It has too many fines and can cloud the water. Pool filter sand is good, or any other material that has been graded to remove the fines.