Substrates

[Incredulous_Ed]

I'm kind of confused about sunstrates suitable for plants. If I layer from bottom to top a sprinkling of peat or potting soil, small grade pea gravel, some laterite or other plant supplement, and then sand or some more small grade pea gravel, will that be good for growing plants?

And instead of getting laterite, can I just use the plant fertilizer tabs?

Can I use peat or potting soil as the top layer?

What do you reccomend as a good, low cost substrate for plants? I was going to go with eco complete or aquasoil, but it is too expensive.

If I use plant fertilizer tabs, will I have to use liquid fertilization.

Thanks.

[Rue]

I can't help you...when I saw how complicated a planted tank was...I backed out...

...now I'm doing SW instead...much easier!

However, I have reasonably healthy plants growing in the regular tank gravel, so it doesn't take much unless you want some of those spectacular planted tanks.

In that case, I wouldn't be to concerned with saving money...esp. at the outset. Buy the aquarium soil. Once you have a feel for what's what, you'll have better luck experimenting with cheaper alternatives.

I do know that you should NOT use regular potting soil or peat moss in your tank. They will rot.

[Chrona]

Tiny sprinkling of peat moss on the bottom (sprinkling is key). Then Lesco Soilmaster Select Charcoal color substrate (see Lesco website for local dealership). It's 17 bucks for a 50lb bag, which is more than enough to fill a 75g tank, lol. The stuff is similar to, though not as good as Eco or AS. Don't mess with laterite, topsoil, etc. That's so yesterday ;)

[Incredulous_Ed]

I can't get the soilmaster. The drive to the local Lesco is almost an hour away, and realistically no one would ever want to drive me. ARG! this is so frustrating!

What about vermiculite? is that good? can I use that with smal grade pea gravel and sand? Can I just use Small grade pea gravel and sand with plant fertilizer tabs?

[Rue]

...in short...

No.

[Incredulous_Ed]

...in short...

No.
Arg. Then what should I do?

[cocoa_pleco]

good 'ol playsand then?

[hungryhound]

I can't get the soilmaster. The drive to the local Lesco is almost an hour away, and realistically no one would ever want to drive me. ARG! this is so frustrating!


Why don't you order it online and have them deliver it to your house. You will pay more but it should be less than getting eco or ADA

[Incredulous_Ed]

Why don't you order it online and have them deliver it to your house. You will pay more but it should be less than getting eco or ADA
But then I might as well buy a bag of flourite, because it will be the same cost or less then the soilmaster with shipping right?

[Rue]

Sometimes...it's best in the long run...to just start with the more expensive stuff...seems like only the experts can sometimes find ways to do things cheaper...and they've earned that right through all the trial and error they've gone through...

... waiting an extra week or two now for supplies won't be remembered...

[hungryhound]

But then I might as well buy a bag of flourite, because it will be the same cost or less then the soilmaster with shipping right?

I am not sure as you are required to create an account before they will tell you shipping charges and I was not willing to do that for a product that I personally will not be using. You could atleast check it out. It may be that it would only cost you 15 20 bucks to have it delivered and you would save 40 to 50 bucks over eco, but I do not know. I do however think that it would be worth a try.

[hungryhound]

Ed I went back the site and checked their shipping policy and it looks like they use UPS ground for anything less than 150 pounds. Checking UPS I can send a 50 lb package form my location iowa city to des Moines (112 miles) for roughly 18.80.

It looks like you should be able to get a bag for close to 36 bucks shipped. Which is a substantial savings over eco-complete. It might even be cheaper than the gas to drive there and back.

[Rue]

...and if you order a whole bunch of OTHER stuff...the shipping will seem MUCH more reasonable...

Trust me on that...:28:

[Incredulous_Ed]

Thanks! You guys are awesome!

One more question: Would you use flourite or soilmaster?

[hungryhound]

Thanks! You guys are awesome!

One more question: Would you use flourite or soilmaster?

I have never used either. so i cannot offer an opinion. You may want to check out the planted tank ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]) to see what people there say about the two. That is where you are most likely to find the highest concentration of people who have used those two products and a quick search should find you many good testimonials on both products.

[Chrona]

General consensus would probably be that there's no difference between SMS and Flourite in terms of growing plants, as long as you are dosing the proper ferts (which you should be doing anyways). SMS is MUCH less messy than Flourite, and comes in black, so I'd say go with that.

[zackish]

All I have to say is eco-complete is amazing and I haven't even put one plant in my aquarium yet. My water is very cool and the eco-complete looks very natural but at the same time not too sandy looking. It is worth the extra money I think. I payed $27.00 for a 20lb bag at my LFS and I bought 2 bags. In a 29g tank it gave me about 3 inches.

[RobbieG]

All I have to say is eco-complete is amazing and I haven't even put one plant in my aquarium yet. My water is very cool and the eco-complete looks very natural but at the same time not too sandy looking. It is worth the extra money I think. I payed $27.00 for a 20lb bag at my LFS and I bought 2 bags. In a 29g tank it gave me about 3 inches.

I finally found a LFS in my area that carries it - I have two planted tanks with just the laterite and regular gravel. I can't wait to try the eco-complete.

[Incredulous_Ed]

At my LFS (where I have $20 credit :)) They were selling a bag of Planted Tank substrate. It said it kept the pH at 6.5-7.0 and that it had nutrients. It basically said it did the same thing eco complete. Whatr d you think of it? Can I mix it with small grade gravel? Do you think it would be better or worse than flourite?

One otger note. I will be putting a mix o sand and gravel on top of the substrate to make it look very natural.

[cocoa_pleco]

i think it'd look better than fluorite. fluorites brown color is kinda ugly