Tetra Complete Substrate, to cap or not to cap?

[Skunk]

Hey there

Long time lurker here!

I'm currently setting up my new nano tank to be my first true aquascape. It's an Aqua 40, about 25L, with a built in light, internal heater and filter (they were free, would have preferred external ).

Anyway, I'm at my first hurdle...I bought Tetra Complete Substrate yesterday, after being told that I don't need to cap it with gravel or sand. I opened it and read the instructions when I got home, and it said to put on a layer of gravel or sand after the layer of substrate.

Do I really need to? Also, is this substrate good enough for low light "Iwagumi"?

I'm planning on doing a fishless cycle (as I always do), and using something to carpet the bottom, with vallis or cabomba as a background plant to hide the filter and heater as much as possible. And of course, a rock formation.

Thinking of stocking with red cherry shrimp, a dwarf puffer or a betta splendens.

(I currently have 2 juvie axolotls, and a coldwater with 2 beautiful Ranchus, golden zebra danios, wcmms, apple snails, and newly hatched apple snails in a floating breeding box)

Thanks!

 

[Lisa_Perry75]

Welcome to the forum!!!

I did cap it with sand. When I pulled up any plants it would cloud the tank up a bit so I would think it does need capping. If this is a problem you could always take it back?

The dwarf puffer (and perhaps the betta) will eat the cherry shrimp. Could be an expensive mistake to make.

 

[Skunk]

Thanks for the advice. It would be cheaper to keep it and cap it, then get something like ADA Amazonia...but it is much prettier! Hmm, will have to have a think about it!

And if I was to get a puffer, he'd be on his own () and with some snails to eat! It's one species or the other at the moment, not sure though.

 

[Skunk]

I decided to go ahead and use the Tetra substrate, and I capped with sand that I already had (unipac). Got the dechlorinated water in and set up the heater and filter. I also dosed with bacterlife, what good this will do I don't know, but I suppose it's habit

There aren't any scratches on the tank, just the bubbles I can see a few airpockets in the sand, so thats something to go back and sort out. Plus this little tank is on my desk