Hey everyone, I've recently become very interested in doing a nano aquascape, and possibly my 29 gal tank. I found a great 2.5 tank and I have everything else I need, besides the substrate. I was wondering if anyone knew a good, cheap way to make a substrate. The cheapest bag I've seen was 20 bones, for a 15 LB bag, and I feel like they're sort of ripping me off...
DIY plant substrate
- Thread starter kingken
- Start date
I have the same issue with the price of substrates. One idea I read was something called the Walstad method. I just started it on a one gallon tank i had laying around. In short you use potting soil on bottom and sand (or gravel) on top. I had these laying around so just decided to give it a shot. I used about an inch of soil and half inch of sand. This method is supposed to work very well for planted and stocked aquariums (in theory). As of now I cannot say one way or another of how it works. I did learn that potting soil floats and is full of tannins. I threw in a plant to see how well it would grow. Now it is just a waiting game.
On a seperate note I have heard of people using cheap kitty litter. This is just what i have heard. I have never tried it.
I also have a tank with play sand from Home Depot, but it is not planted. The play sand was only like $3 or $4. Works well with fish, but not sure how well it would work for plants.
I wish i could give you better information on what works and doesn't, but I do not want to give you false information. This is just what I have experienced.
On a seperate note I have heard of people using cheap kitty litter. This is just what i have heard. I have never tried it.
I also have a tank with play sand from Home Depot, but it is not planted. The play sand was only like $3 or $4. Works well with fish, but not sure how well it would work for plants.
I wish i could give you better information on what works and doesn't, but I do not want to give you false information. This is just what I have experienced.
i hear that kitty litter works well, the kind that is made of clay since it will hold nutrients in it. I also read somewhere that when setting up the tank, the person actually soaked the absorbent layer of the substrate in concentrated chemicals in order to get it "filled" with ferts
Navyscuba
The Fish Envy
Hey here is a link to a DIY substrate that has work for this guy very well. The link for the soil is there too.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/el-natural/32043-el-natural-twist-long-56k.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/el-natural/32043-el-natural-twist-long-56k.html
what black sand is that? Is it not color quartz? If so id be interested in knowing where you got itHere's my 75g planted tank with top soil/oil-dry mix capped with black sand. works great.
I also have a 29g and 10g with same setup. They have been setup for much longer and they all do really well.
It's Estes black marine sand i got from pet supplies plus. It was the was the only thing i could find around here. it came in 5lb bags.
Here's a link to it at big als http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18315/si4645917/cl0/estesmarinesandblack5lbs
It solid black unlike carib sea Tahitian Moon sand which has browns in it.
Here's a link to it at big als http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18315/si4645917/cl0/estesmarinesandblack5lbs
It solid black unlike carib sea Tahitian Moon sand which has browns in it.