Best substrate for Cabomba?

[dondro]

Hello Everyone,

I have two plants, Cabomba and a java fern. My cabomba is at about 8 stalks now, and they seem to be having trouble staying down. It is increasingly annoying. They all seem firm and then I turn around, look back and half of them are floating around and one is stuck to the filter.

I seem to have gotten it now, after piling gravel on them once they seem secure, but I was wondering about substrates. Is there something better than just gravel? I was thinking either a layer of sand and then a layer of gravel, or perhaps a layer of peat, then gravel. About .5" per layer.

Would this help provide a better rooting system for the stalks?


Sorry for the long post.

 

[John N.]

Gravel works. The smaller 3mm grain sized ones work better as it helps in terms of holding down the plants. Other planting substrates like Eco Complete and Flourite work very well at storing and providing some nutrients to the plants, and it's easier to plant in.

With your plan of using sand and gravel, the sand will be mix with the gravel and may not look ideal. But if you're going to do it anyway, only sprinkle a seethrough layer of peat, and then gravel and sand.

-John N.

 

[ewurm]

I agree, the smaller gravel works better. I like black, it really provides awesome contrast.

 

[dondro]

I'm really liking what I'm reading about this eco-complete stuff. I think I'm going to take the gravel I have now, mix it with twice as much eco-complete, and use that as my substrate. I figure that way I'll have a nice thick substrate, plus I have really brightly coloured gravel, and I think it will look neat.

The only thing I don't like about it is that it looks like it only comes in 20lb bags. I think that's a little overkill for my 15G, no?

Do you know of any smaller bags? About half that, maybe?

Thanks for the advice!

**Update**
After reading about your 29G, and seeing that it took three bags of eco complete to cover, I'm wondering if 20lbs is enough for my 15. Were those 20lb bags?

 

[John N.]

One 20 lb bag gives a depth of 2 inches all around in a 10 gallon tank (10"x20" base). I believe one bag will be enough for your 15 gallon since you plan on mixing it. I prefer to have a non mixed substrate because of looks. If you plan on all eco complete, 1 1/2 - 2 bags will be perfect for your 15. www.aquariumplants.com is the cheapest place to purchase Eco Complete, and it only comes in 20 lb bags.

Another alternative to Eco Complete, which has gotten a lot of hype due to it being produced and manufactured by T.Amano, who is the figure head of nature aquariums, is ADA Aquasoil. One 9 liter bag will be perfect for your tank. ADA Aquasoil is popular because it lowers pH and KH, and releases nutrients over time to plants. Many people report the best growth with this substrate. www.adgshop.com

My opinion is that Eco complete, as well as Flourite, gravel, and ADA aquasoil can grow most plants equally to each other. If you are going plants that require softer water, then ADA aquasoil will help in that respect.

-John N.

 

[dondro]

I picked up a bag of fluorite, as my LFS had never even heard of EcoComplete, and I didn't want to order it online (I'm too cheap!).

After rinsing the fluorite for an hour, I put it in and it STILL turned the water dark brown! So i filtered and skimmed and changed until it was only a slight cloudy brown, and let it run through the filter or settle. So just when it's getting clear, I notice that on the side, near the base, my aquarium has sprung a leak! I just finished emptying it of water, I have my gravel in one bowl, the fluorite base is still in the tank, and my plants are in a bucket of water at the foot of my tank. Metatron is furious that he has to sleep in a tiny .5G Betta tank, but what can you do.

There's no question here, I guess. Just really frustrated that I have to get a new tank tomorrow. As it's not really worth buying aquarium silicone and trying to fix a 15G tank. The LFS has tank only for $9.99, just PO'd that I need to do everything over, just when is was getting done!.