MatTheFish
Member
- Joined
- 28 Oct 2013
- Messages
- 37
Hello,
I'm in the process of considering my substrate for when i start to keep a planted tank. (tank details in sig)
About 2 months ago I bought Dennerle Crystal quartz gravel Black gravel, it has no nutrient value (inert) or anything but cost me nearly £70 in total. I wish I did not bother as I am now wanting a planted tank with pressurized CO2, EI dosing etc.
I was thinking some possible options and would like some advice please.
[ Option 1 ]
2 x 2.5l Tropica Plant Substrate (base layer) - Total £20
I was considering getting just a bottom base layer something like Tropica Plant substrate and cap it with my expensive Dennerle Crystal Quartz black. This seems the most affordable option as price for Tropical 2.5litre is £10 minus a few pence.
I'd get two bags which going by tropica recommendations and their chart on 1CM thickness this would be more than enough, maybe 1CM isn't thick enough though for plants to root in it sounds to thin to me?
It also means i keep my expensive nice looking gravel. How is the Tropica plant substrate in comparison to others? does it have lot's of nutrients etc plants need and does it last as want something that doesn't need to be replaced say after 12 months for example.
Apparently because of the grain size of Dennerle Crystal Quartz Black it should allow easy rooting of plants, is this true (it is very light stuff to) ? I would like to have a go at stem plants, delicate plants maybe carpeting type plants, heavy rooted plants, a mix variety, so want something that will allow easy rooting.
Another possible bonus is when uprooting/moving plants etc with a deep layer of gravel It should i guess keep dust etc to a minimum?
Not sure if Tropica is one of the better base layer substrates, if not any recommendations?
Also Dennerle says the following about it's gravel I bought 2 months back.
[ Option 2 ]
2 x 9l/20lb (may need 3 not sure) Caribsea Eco Complete - Total £50.98 (2 bags) | £76.47 (3 bags)
Eco Complete (maybe the fine version) for delicate roots although i do want to plant a variety of plants not just delicate root plants. Doesn't need capping, expensive, from what I read doesn't have allot of nutrients in it but high in CEC i think, means loosing my Dennerle unless i cap the eco complete with the dennerle, not sure if my dennerle gravel will stay on top though and if it's a good idea? my Dennerle is very light (some will float on water it's that light until you swish it under the water and then it sinks no problems) and has a 1-2mm grain size which suppose to be good for plants to root in, I don't know though if it is as no plants as of yet.
[ Option 3 ]
2 x 9l (may need 3 not sure) ADA Aquasoil Amazonia
Used by the best aquascapers, think it speaks for itself as being the best. Would loose my Dennerle for sure on this one as just wouldn't be rite having Dennerle in with Aquasoil plus the Dennerle would probably fall to bottom over time. So downfall loosing my expensive gravel. Has allot of benefits to my understanding. Worst thing about this is not only price but I have plenty of fish that I have nowhere to put them for a few weeks whilst the Aquasoil finished leaching the ammonia, my external filter has been up and running for just over 12 months and has always been stable not sure if it would be able to deal with the ammonia leaching from substrate aswell as fish bioload. I do weekly maintenance and water changes of 25% that will increase to 50% when CO2/EI dosing is added, I do use seachem prime however and daily water changes should make this not be a problem although I don't know exactly how much ammonia it does release so a risk i'm not sure i want to take as i love my fish.
Something I'm confused with, looking at thegreenmachine website there's two types of Amazonia.
1) ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia (9 Litre) - Total £70 (2 bags) | Total £105 (3 bags)
2) ADA Aqua Soil Powder Amazonia (9 Litre) - Total 100 (2 bags) | Total £150 (3 bags)
The first one is the cheapest at £34.99 each the second one is worse at £49.99 each. On searching these forums it seems one of these cause allot of problems like dusty/cloudy water etc which i don't want for sure, which one is it? the first one the picture for that product DOES NOT have the word 'New' above the text 'Amazonia'. The second one DOES have the word 'New' above the text Amazonia. really not sure which one is best, don't want the one with dusting/clouding want to keep that to minimum, don't want it going like mush either, not sure why the second one says powder as close up images of it suggests it isn't a powder, i don't want a powered fine substrate that will cause a mess just by touching it, doing minor maintenance, my external filter likely wouldn't appreciate it on a regular bases either.
Unless there's something else that is just as good please recommend. Sorry for all the questions just want some advice in helping me decide.
As I've not had a planted tank before and being new to it all i was thinking a good nutrient substrate would hopefully help me whilst I get used to it all and learn as i go.
No doubt the ADA is probably the best but the cost of 2/3 bags and loosing my expensive gravel which cost around £70 this would be very costly on that front going with ADA Aquasoil (Amazonia). I will if needed remove and not use my Dennerle regardless of susbtrate is advised.
Many thanks
Mathew
I'm in the process of considering my substrate for when i start to keep a planted tank. (tank details in sig)
About 2 months ago I bought Dennerle Crystal quartz gravel Black gravel, it has no nutrient value (inert) or anything but cost me nearly £70 in total. I wish I did not bother as I am now wanting a planted tank with pressurized CO2, EI dosing etc.
I was thinking some possible options and would like some advice please.
[ Option 1 ]
2 x 2.5l Tropica Plant Substrate (base layer) - Total £20
I was considering getting just a bottom base layer something like Tropica Plant substrate and cap it with my expensive Dennerle Crystal Quartz black. This seems the most affordable option as price for Tropical 2.5litre is £10 minus a few pence.
I'd get two bags which going by tropica recommendations and their chart on 1CM thickness this would be more than enough, maybe 1CM isn't thick enough though for plants to root in it sounds to thin to me?
It also means i keep my expensive nice looking gravel. How is the Tropica plant substrate in comparison to others? does it have lot's of nutrients etc plants need and does it last as want something that doesn't need to be replaced say after 12 months for example.
Apparently because of the grain size of Dennerle Crystal Quartz Black it should allow easy rooting of plants, is this true (it is very light stuff to) ? I would like to have a go at stem plants, delicate plants maybe carpeting type plants, heavy rooted plants, a mix variety, so want something that will allow easy rooting.
Another possible bonus is when uprooting/moving plants etc with a deep layer of gravel It should i guess keep dust etc to a minimum?
Not sure if Tropica is one of the better base layer substrates, if not any recommendations?
Also Dennerle says the following about it's gravel I bought 2 months back.
Crystal Quartz Gravel Characteristics At A Glance:- Hardener-free
- CO2-proof
- Light-resistant
- Water-neutral
- Grain size 1-2mm
- Rounded edges protect bottom-dwelling fish.
[ Option 2 ]
2 x 9l/20lb (may need 3 not sure) Caribsea Eco Complete - Total £50.98 (2 bags) | £76.47 (3 bags)
Eco Complete (maybe the fine version) for delicate roots although i do want to plant a variety of plants not just delicate root plants. Doesn't need capping, expensive, from what I read doesn't have allot of nutrients in it but high in CEC i think, means loosing my Dennerle unless i cap the eco complete with the dennerle, not sure if my dennerle gravel will stay on top though and if it's a good idea? my Dennerle is very light (some will float on water it's that light until you swish it under the water and then it sinks no problems) and has a 1-2mm grain size which suppose to be good for plants to root in, I don't know though if it is as no plants as of yet.
[ Option 3 ]
2 x 9l (may need 3 not sure) ADA Aquasoil Amazonia
Used by the best aquascapers, think it speaks for itself as being the best. Would loose my Dennerle for sure on this one as just wouldn't be rite having Dennerle in with Aquasoil plus the Dennerle would probably fall to bottom over time. So downfall loosing my expensive gravel. Has allot of benefits to my understanding. Worst thing about this is not only price but I have plenty of fish that I have nowhere to put them for a few weeks whilst the Aquasoil finished leaching the ammonia, my external filter has been up and running for just over 12 months and has always been stable not sure if it would be able to deal with the ammonia leaching from substrate aswell as fish bioload. I do weekly maintenance and water changes of 25% that will increase to 50% when CO2/EI dosing is added, I do use seachem prime however and daily water changes should make this not be a problem although I don't know exactly how much ammonia it does release so a risk i'm not sure i want to take as i love my fish.
Something I'm confused with, looking at thegreenmachine website there's two types of Amazonia.
1) ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia (9 Litre) - Total £70 (2 bags) | Total £105 (3 bags)
2) ADA Aqua Soil Powder Amazonia (9 Litre) - Total 100 (2 bags) | Total £150 (3 bags)
The first one is the cheapest at £34.99 each the second one is worse at £49.99 each. On searching these forums it seems one of these cause allot of problems like dusty/cloudy water etc which i don't want for sure, which one is it? the first one the picture for that product DOES NOT have the word 'New' above the text 'Amazonia'. The second one DOES have the word 'New' above the text Amazonia. really not sure which one is best, don't want the one with dusting/clouding want to keep that to minimum, don't want it going like mush either, not sure why the second one says powder as close up images of it suggests it isn't a powder, i don't want a powered fine substrate that will cause a mess just by touching it, doing minor maintenance, my external filter likely wouldn't appreciate it on a regular bases either.
Unless there's something else that is just as good please recommend. Sorry for all the questions just want some advice in helping me decide.
As I've not had a planted tank before and being new to it all i was thinking a good nutrient substrate would hopefully help me whilst I get used to it all and learn as i go.
No doubt the ADA is probably the best but the cost of 2/3 bags and loosing my expensive gravel which cost around £70 this would be very costly on that front going with ADA Aquasoil (Amazonia). I will if needed remove and not use my Dennerle regardless of susbtrate is advised.
Many thanks
Mathew
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