Good, cheap plant substrate?

AsaPW

AsaPW

AC Members
Nov 17, 2006
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Lafayette,LA
So I'm getting a 150 gallon today and I'm looking to buy 150+ pounds of black plant substrate. What I really like is the Flourite Black, but it's 22 bucks for a 15.4 pound bag at DrFostersmith.com. They have it for 18 at another place I found, but their shipping price is really high.

Does anyone know where I can find some dark substrate that would be great for a planted tank?


:headbang2:
 
Look for 3M color Quartz T grade at you local pool supply and builder places. It is not a Fertilized bed but makes a great cap over something else to give you the black look with out the cost 5# bag runs around $20 to $30 depending on dealer.
 
Could you find some Flourite locally to save on shipping? You might be able to find Tahitian Moon Sand slightly cheaper - But not much.
 
Sounguru said:
Look for 3M color Quartz T grade at you local pool supply and builder places. It is not a Fertilized bed but makes a great cap over something else to give you the black look with out the cost 5# bag runs around $20 to $30 depending on dealer.
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Hmm..Maybe I could get half of the Flourite Black and half of that stuff. I'll see what other people come up with first, but doesn't sound like a bad idea. Thanks for the reply!
 
No problem I have actually done the same thing worked great

Oh by the way that was a 50lb bag not a 5 lb bag as I stated above....
 
Penfan66 said:
Could you find some Flourite locally to save on shipping? You might be able to find Tahitian Moon Sand slightly cheaper - But not much.
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Yeah, I'm gonna have to look around. I'm thinking that it'll be priced a little more than 22 bucks but you never know. Honestly, I don't think the DrFS price with shipping is too high, but I want to see if I can do better. That is a good chunk of money to spend on substrate. I think the total for about 150 pounds (10 bags) came out to be around 230 +/- shipped.
 
Bk828 said:
Seriously there is no need for no special substrate. You can use the regular gravel (20-25lb bag for $10-13) and once the tank matures it will be just as good as any "special plant" substrate.
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This is what I am thinking of doing, at the moment I have play sand in my 55G, it is always getting kicked up by cory cats/filters. I like how the sand looks, but its kind of a pain to have to keep emptying sand from my filters.

I had looked at Eco-Complete but it comes out around $100. I can get gravel or a heavier sand for far less than that. The plants I have are growing fine in play sand, so figure they will grow just fine in gravel/regular sand and don't really need anything fancy.
 
Bk828 said:
Seriously there is no need for no special substrate. You can use the regular gravel (20-25lb bag for $10-13) and once the tank matures it will be just as good as any "special plant" substrate.
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Well, you're probably right, but I have a smaller tank with special substrate and the plants grow faster, brighter and just all around better looking that my main planted tank with just regular gravel. I don't know what it is, but I especially like the look of plant substrate too. Could be the lighting, but I think I have better lights on my main 125.
 
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