What can be used for a planted substrate gravel?

[tap]

I wanna get a really nice planted tank setup or at least add plants to my tanks im setting up right now......and I dont have the cash (actually im just super cheap) to buy the super expensive, eco complete, or whatever, i was wondering what cheap alternatives could be used for the different layers needed, im gonna put black gravel on the top just cus i like how it looks and I'll use fertalizers and plant food and whatnot i just dont wanna have to spend like 40 bucks on a bag of substrate.....im also gonna get a nice diy co2 setup

[Hurley]

I use Soil Master Select. Its a little light weight for some but it gets the job done and its cheap. I think I spent $15 for a 50lb bag of it. It can be a little hard to find and they may have stopped producing the charcoal colored version.

Some people use pool filter sand and there is another type of sand which I think is used for coloring in-ground pools that people use as substrate but I don't remember what its called.

[FastFly67]

i use play sand, black sand, gravel. with sand i pop in some root tabs.

[Turbosaurus]

People have used everything from mineralized soil (PITA) to kitty litter! (Yeah, really, kitty litter)
Enriched substrates like Ecco complete and Aquasoil by ADA really are top of the line and do make a difference, but may be more problem than solution if you're going low tech. If you want to go inert you may as well just use the gravel. It works for me. Why make it any more complicated than it needs to be? Soilmaster select is cheaper, but it comes in 50lb bags and isn't always easy to find. As for a gravel top layer, that will never stay separated from the rest of what's in your tank. Either use black gravel or use soilmaster select in charcoal. The charcoal is NOT black, but its close. If you want the clean black look of gravel, use gravel. Don't bother getting both

[tap]

cool thanks i was just reading up on it and most places said you needed something that wasnt as loose as gravel for the rooting of the plants, i have some play sand i might put in the bottom of the tanks then put black gravel all over it.

i have a turtle tank that i want to have a few plants in also i was wondering if you guys have any tips on plants that turtles wont just tear apart.

ONE more question i really love the effect of moss on the walls and decor of aquariums, what would you guys say is the easiest, cool looking moss or type of low ground cover plant i could grow? this would be in my turtle tank, my 25 gallon, which will be probably mollies not sure, and then in my 10 gallon betta.

THANKS

[mellowvision]

java moss is the easiest, but for ground cover I'd recommend flame moss.

I've used ecocomplete and flourite, and flourite sand. I'd say go with the sand, it's nice.

[7itanium]

I use black flourite... its a bit cheaper.. but still on the more expensive side

but I hardly ever buy it new-- my LFS guy usually has used stuff in buckets

I get a 5g bucket FULL for like $10

[blue2fyre]

For soil in my planted tank I just used regular cheap potting soil. I mean the really cheap stuff that doesn't have anything fancy in it. I put a layer down then planted my plants and put a layer of black gravel over it. I have had no ill effects and the whole bag was only a couple bucks. My plants are growing well and my inverts are fine as well.

[DSR]

I used flourite I believe.

[tap]

Hmmm i might have to try the super cheap soil but it would be cloudy for a while probably, i just wanna get something my plants can thrive in for super cheap

[jptjpt]

I've used Earthgro brand topsoil from Home Depot in the past. Just make sure to sift it and remove small branches and rocks from the soil before you use it. If you really want to do it the proper way, read Aaron Talbot's article from this link: http://gwapa.org/wordpress/articles/mineralized-soil-substrate/ . You can cut down on the cloudiness by putting an inch of topsoil on the bottom, then mix 1 part topsoil to 2 parts sand and put about 2" of it over the previous layer. Then put an inch of pure sand/gravel on top of that. This way, you don't pull up so much soil when you do your rescaping.

[bazil323]

Whatever you like. If you are using something inert (no fertlizers in it) like gravel or regular sand, you will have to use root tabs (if you have rooted plants in the substrate), and liquid or dry fertilizers made specifically for aquariums (regular fertilizers may cloud water, cause spikes in ammonia/nitrate, etc. and aren't good for fish) for plants that are floating or tied to rocks or other decor.

OR, you can use regular gravel or sand but plant your rooted plants in pots using Flourite, Eco Complete, or any other plant-specific substrate. This does 2 things. 1. It helps if you want to keep a plant from spreading or want to move it later. 2. It lets you get the benefits of a plant-specific substrate without having to pay to do the whole tank with it.

[tap]

hey jp that link was awesome i think im gonna do exactly what that dude did except idk if i can find the potash or dolomite so i was wondering if i could just leave those out and then use a fertalizer to supplement for them.

thanks