Cheap Planted Substrate for 10-15g?

[dtd87]

Looking to start a fish tank again after a long time and was wondering what my options are for a cheaper planted substrate. I used to use eco complete back in the day but I don't believe I will need 20lbs of substrate.

I am willing to mix is I have too but I have 20lbs of small gravels that I would also like to incorporate into the aquascape.

As for equipment so far I have a toms aquatics canister filter.

Any input is appreciated!

 

[BallAquatics]

If you like the idea of fluorite you can look up a product called Safe T Sorb at TSC. Also Walmart has non clumping, fragrance free cat litter for $3 or $4. Both of these make great planted tank substrate.

Dennis

 

[tanker]

It is not the substrate that makes the plants grow, it is what's in the substrate. You can use ordinary sand as long as you add nutrients.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Ordinary gravel works well too.

I used FloraMax substrate in a 10g. Rooted plants eventually did very well in it. It is very dusty though, and easy to disturb in a small tank like a 10g.

 

[Tifftastic]

I've used play sand from WalMart in planted tanks before. Its like a 50 lb bag for a few bucks, and as long as you dose ferts it works pretty well.

 

[biondoa]

I have plain gravel in one of my tanks and the plants are doing just fine.

 

[dtd87]

So if I just use plain gravel do I still use root tabs or is this like dosing seachem excel and such?

 

[dtd87]

If you like the idea of fluorite you can look up a product called Safe T Sorb at TSC. Also Walmart has non clumping, fragrance free cat litter for $3 or $4. Both of these make great planted tank substrate.

Dennis

How does this flourite work as opposed to that seachem flourite? I have no experience with either and it seems like something you would use as a base layer and cover with gravel/sand?

 

[evil wizard]

Looks like fresh beat me to it. But I am still gonna say it. Ordinary gravel works well too. I have a planted 29 gallon and a 39 gallon with a few potted swords. They are all in gravel and they do just fine. I don't do any tabs or ferts so they grow slowly but they still grow.

 

[Tifftastic]

So if I just use plain gravel do I still use root tabs or is this like dosing seachem excel and such?

I used root tabs in the one that we planted hair grass and bacopa in, and once a month dosed with Seachem Flourish. This tank also had a DIY CO2 system and strong lighting.

My Anubias, java fern, and java moss tank got no dosed ferts and no root tabs (since these plants don't take nutrients frlm substrate).

My tank with a mix of crypts and Anubias and Java fern got a cheap brand of ferts that were disco at PMart for a penny.

All of these tanks flourished. It depends on what type of plants you want to grow, lighting, livestock and your natural water parameters on what you need to add.