[Soup12]

I am looking to have a tank where I do not need to dose continually.

I am doing a low tech setup with java moss and java fern, etc... I am going miracle grow organic potting mix capping with black tahitian moon sand. Just wondering if i should put red clay or flourite on top of dirt, then cap with sand.

is red clay and flourite for iron plants (plants that get red)? Or is it good for all plants.



fish will create bioload and poop

 

[AirstoND]

1) I would keep the caps 1.5x thicker than soil.
2) Flourite is clay based, but when substrate is thick enough (~3in), clay (alumina based) provides a better reducing medium for any iron (as opposed to silica based sand)
3) If your only plants are java fern and moss, and your tank will have a small bioload, just stick with the sand and root tabs
4) Depending on how fine sand is, the finer stuff will either settle at the substrate's bottom or be taken up by filter/gravel siphon.