Substrate Depth Minimum

[thrakuarium]

Im planning my next tank and I'm giving serious thought to live plants. I am focusing on being able to keep a well vacuumed substrate, so I want to keep a minimum acceptable depth. It will probably be a small gravel substrate. I might be open to a small layer of eco-complete, or its equivalent, topped with the gravel.

So I'm wondering what the minimum substrate depth is that I can get away with and still use live plants. I'm hoping for 2" or less, preferably less. It is going to be a cichlid/community hybrid with blue rams and one or two angels, so I want keep my tank quality as good as possible and much of that starts in the substrate.

I understand about floating and driftwood tied plants, but I'm just asking about "planted in substrate" type plants.

[Fishguy2727]

And is actually a better size for plants. It is cleaner in general as well. It keeps everything on top, the flow keeps it moving, and the filters grab it for you to remove.

My 75 has done extremely well with plants and only has about an inch of Estes' Marine Sand.

[MCHRKiller]

Also comes down to the type of plants that you want. Stems dont require as much substrate as heavily rooted plants such as crypts and swords. Also its not recomended to vacuum the substrate often or atleast within a couple of inches of your live plants. If your anal about your substrate floaters, and those attached to rocks or even plants potted in terra cotta pots of substrate would work best for you. 2" is often regarded as the minimum substrate depth but those root heavy plants really should be kept in about 3" of substrate.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

wait... why?
What's the benefit of a small amount of substrate? Keeping it well vacuumed does what and why?

Anything in the gravel will be broken down and help to provide nutrients for the plants. Vacuuming all the time is also kinda hard with a planted tank.


Although i'm very biased as i LOVE my 4-5 inches of seachem flourite black.

Had 2-3in of it in my old 29g tank and my sword plants i put in weren't able to be covered up enough. Combine that with not being able to keep my driftwood from floating.... it wasn't much fun with a short substrate.

i guess i need more info on why to be the judge. It'll definitely hurt the type of plants that you can keep.

[smaug]

Plant the tank well enough and vacuming is mostly a thing of the past.Once a year or so is about right for mine.What used to have to be removed becomes food for the plants.Have about 3-4 inches of fine gravel/sand with fluorite in the mix of about 50% and your good to go.

[Fishguy2727]

That 1" includes things like radican sword, amazon sword, many stem plants, hygrophila, and many others.

[smaug]

That 1" includes things like radican sword, amazon sword, many stem plants, hygrophila, and many others.
How do you keep stem plants anchored in only an inch of sand?Not to mention amazons.That seems rather difficult.

[Fishguy2727]

I have never had any issues with it. At first they may pop up a couple times, but I just re-plant them. Within a week they have enough roots to keep themselves down.

In a separate tank I had an amazon pop up that I didn't notice. By the time I did notice it had started growing leaves out the side up to the light, not rooted at all. It kept growing like that, like a floating amazon ball.

[smaug]

Thanks for the info.

[Algenco]

my swords and crypts are growing in 1.5" pool sand

[thrakuarium]

Ok I am seeing a depth of between 2-3 inches seems to be my minimum. As far as "well vacuumed" goes, that ties into my overall thinking on substrate depth. Its not that I plan to suck up every speck of waste product I see. I just dont want to create a ticking bacteria timebomb with a massive substrate depth that is not necessary for the success of the tank. Live plants will be nice, but I still put my fishy friend's health first. Thats why I am concerned about the depth. I won't use sand because I dont want to risk nitrogen pockets or other side effects from an overcompacted substrate. I think a bottom layer of eco-complete topped with the tiny pebble type gravel is what i am leaning toward. I want corys in this tank along with the rams and angels and the small pebbles should be gentle enough on their barbells.

Floating driftwood isnt a concern to me. A ziptie or 2 fixes that in a jiffy.
Thanks for everyone's input thumbs2: