Plant Growing Substrate

[Fish-Addict]

Why does everyone say that you put a layer of gravel over plant growing substrate? Why can't you just use the other stuff on it's own??
:confused:

[ChrisK]

I guess you could but flourite and such is much more expensive, gravel and other substrate is for depth, thats my reasoning any not unless theres something I don't know....

[Ozymandias]

personally i just use fluorite and eco-complete soley, it's all really how much people what to pay for substrate.

[debaric]

huge difference in price between flourite and eco complete- flourite is 15 bucks and eco is sometimes twice that amount

[inkyjenn]

jeez where did you get your fluorite? i got mine for $25 (usd) a 15 lb bag! ive got 60 lbs of it in my 55 and its the only substrate i have in there. i love it. it looks great and the plants go nuts with minimal effort

[Ozymandias]

actually 15 was what i payed for online but got two bags of it (I use the black sand) and shipping was about $12 to $15 so it evened out. i used two bags of eco-complete in my tank that where about $30 (bought locally). then in my 5.5 gallon i'm using ADA Amazonia II which for a small 3L bag is about $12 (then some shipping). all and all i've turned out a bit of cash for the substrate but i'm fine with that and my plants really like it compared to the gravel i was first using.

[Fish-Addict]

So it does not matter whether I have another gravel on top then no?

[Ozymandias]

in the end not really some people prefer it one way other another. as long there is nutrients in the water column you should be fine.

[debaric]

the way i understand it, if you have heavy root feeding plants like Vals, you would want at least some nutrients in the soil so i think doing half nutrient substrate/half gravel would be ok.