flourite substrate

if i were you, depending on size of your tank, start cheap. with normal 2-3mm gravel. if it isnt working well, considering you got all the wattage and co2 stuff on track, switch to flourite. start cheap, so you wont regret if you dont get the results you expect wtih flourte.
 
Originally posted by cloran
Doe this work good enought to make it worth buying? Planning on using it by itself
I my opinion - absolutely!
 
Unless it is an old tank being converted to planted without substrate change, the gravel will provide no nutrients and very little exchange capacity. This is guarantee of difficulty without careful and complete water column feeding. If you elect to use gravel, you need a bottom layer of laterite at least. IMHO, Flourite is far superior and lasts forever.
 
I agree with RTR 100%. It's worth every penny you'll spend for it and I've never talked with anyone who's regretted using Flourite.
If money is an issue and you have a large tank there is a product sold in some nurseries called Schultz's Soil Conditioner. It also goes by the name Profile. It is very similar to Flourite at a fraction of the cost. I used it in my most recently set up 55 gal. and mixed it with Flourite and am very happy with it.
Len
 
Chinaboy the problem with starting with gravel and changing later is that if you decide to change the substrate you have to take all the plants, fish & everything else out of the tank first.

Changing substrate is a real pain in the butt. You're better off spending a few dollars more at the beginning and doing it right the first time.
 
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