what plant substrate do you use?

[jenricae]

Just setting up a planted aquarium and was wondering what sort of substrate people use... gravel, sand, Flourish?

I've got some fine gravel and am looking to see what to buy for the plants.

 

[jbradt]

I use Eco-complete. Been using it for a couple of years and it's done wonders for my plants.

 

[angyles]

I use a combination of landscaping gravel and play sand. Add a llittle co2 and dry ferts, it's a jungle!

 

[Pearl]

Well, I have aquarium gravel in one tank, pea gravel in two, play sand in another two and a combination of play sand and pea gravel in the last three tanks I've set up. That said, I still can't decide which one I like best. And all my tanks include plants.

 

[Trigger1985]

I use play sand. My only complaint is that it's a pain to get hornwort to stay planted, but rooted plants are a breeze. Added bonus, the java moss doesn't stick to it, so no more rock mat.

 

[Lab_Rat]

I use flourite. Right now the 29g has flourite black sand and the 55g has flourite black. In my old planted tank I had regular flourite mixed with very coarse sand and that worked well too. Thinking of trying iron ore slag sand for my next tank just to save money.

 

[odinthejd]

eco-complete! CO2 and ferts all I one is what I think of it as!

 

[jones57742]

jr:

One inch of 3/8" aggregate overlaying
Two inches of laterite overlaying
Another inch of 3/8" aggregate.

TR

 

[spacefish34]

i have had great results with ada amazonia II.however,it is pricey.other than that i use the smallest grain of gravel in black or natural i can find and fertilize it initially with tablets heavy in iron.once things take hold i only fertilize the substrate maybe every three months.lots of co2 and liquid ferts used the right way(less of these is usually more in my experience).try some different ideas.all comes down to personal choice.good luck.

 

[FastFly67]

play sand with root tabs and MTS