What kind of substrate

[justinakabob]

What kind of substrate

I just bought some Anacharis, Coontail Spray, Jungle Vala. This is for my first planted tank. I am wondering what the best substrate might be I am thinking about using sand, and what kind of fish might be best; it is a 10-gallon tank
Thank you for your help

 

[Hebdizzle]

corys or loaches for bottom feeders love sand.

 

[anonapersona]

Light more important

The light is more important than the substrate. How many watts, what size tank?

 

[justinakabob]

The light is a Flora-Glo 2800K and it is a 10-gallon tank

 

[RTR]

I don't think you want the jungle Val - it get to 6' long for me.

 

[justinakabob]

if mine grows to be that tall I guess I will try to trim it

 

[Tempest]

You can't really trim the Jungle Val like grass. The problem is that if you do then the rest of that leaf rots off. I have Jungle Val in my 55 gallon that I have to keep taking long long long leaves off of when they try to take over the tank. I guess if I weren't so lazy I'd find something shorter to go back there.

 

[Tempest]

Heehees... Sure does impress my friends when they come in the house while I'm up to my armpits pulling out 5 foot long weeds though.

 

[justinakabob]

Thanks Tempest, thats something i didnt know, I guess I will have to move the longer ones into one of my other tanks or one of my brothers planted tall tanks... Now all I need to do is get some ideas on some substrate and mabey some fish, I'm a cichlid guy, and not many cichlids are plant friendly so im open for some Ideas

 

[Toro Driver]

I have two Angilica Botias that do a great job of stirring stuff up from the bottom. I've looked at putting sand in my tank for a substrate many times and keep getting conflicting posts. I am in the process of adding plants and right now my substrate is a simple gravel. Can I leave the gravel in place and cover it with about an inch of sand. That way the substrate shouldn't get to compacted.