Do I need more than a Gravel Substrate?

i use plain old play sand from home depot. $3.99 for a 50lb bag. all my plants are doing wonderfully and i have:

rotala rotundifolia
myrio (milfoil)
red ozelot sword
microsword
dwarf hairgrass
watersprite
crypt wendtii
crypt lucens
java fern windelov
wisteria
mondo grass
dwarf sagittaria
red tiger lotus

the crypts are filling in nicely and all the rhyzomes have baby plants growing off them, the rotala is trying to take over the one corner of the tank, the ozelot swords have more than doubled in size and i'm actually going to remove them in my final aquascape because they are too big for the tank, the haigrass has more than doubled in volume. the rest of the plants i just added recently, so they haven't gotten a foothold yet, but i'm sure they will do fine as well

and this tank has only been set up about 6 months.

(6 months ago when first set up)
20-g4.jpg


(a few weeks ago)
5-6-06.jpg
 
As is starting to be revealed, Plant Substrates are not by any means a requirement they do produce some advantage for some plants early on, but the nutrients they contain will deplete, and they will need to be replaced via water column dosing, or fish waste. The early advantage with enriched substrates is that you don't have to prep a lot, or get your dosing regimen figured out right away.

If you go with Regular gravel (Assuming no undergravel filter) Then Dust the bottom of your tank with peat before adding the gravel. If you go with enriched substrate this still isn't a biad idea but isn't usually as necessary.

In the tanks I have enriched substrate in, I have Flourite mixed with Estes Walnut, Or red flint Substrate. I like the brown tones better than the Black of eco Complete, and think they look more natural. Appearance is of course a matter of Personal preference, so if you like the darker look go with eco complete.


Dave
 
oh yeah, in my tank, i don't vaccume the fish poo, i just let the MTS snails stir up the sand and mix the fish poo in. that helps fertilize the root feeders. plus i stirred up the sand pretty good when i rearanged everything.
 
So... I'm probably just as well off to mix a narural gravel with a smaller grain gravel... that would probably help the roots out... sprinkle peat on the bottom. This way, I get to choose my substrate color/look.

I can see an advantage to the dark substrate.. it's supposed to bring out the colors in the fish... HOWEVER.. I haven't seen anything(other than photos) or eco complete. I understand that it will seperate itself... well, I've got til tuesday to make a decision.

My only drawback with Eco Complete is how it looks, I've seen some photos, but it's not the same as seeing in person.

Thanks for all your help.
 
i just use geosystem substrate :D it rocks ... it's very dusty though =( i spent half a day cleaning it thoroughly in a bucket and i still had a day of cloudy *** water... MUH
 
Go with the substrate that you like best. Water based fertilization is more than sufficienct even with the so called root feeders. You spent a lot of money on your aquarium so why not make it look the way you want it to look.
 
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