which substrate is best.

[Nick16]

i have some choices to complement my akadama, black gravel and my aquabasis.

which is best: (it would help if you have used them but some knowledge is fine)

1) Tropica substrate http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1120

2) Tetra plant complete http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=487

3) ferplast http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1335

4) Caribsea eco complete http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=190

thanks

 

[George Farmer]

I've used three out of four and they all performed well. It's hard to say which was best as they were in very different set ups.

If you're mixing it with Akadama etc. then personally I'd go for the least expensive.

 

[Nick16]

well it will be below the akadama (underneath ) but i know the eco complete is expensive but i couldnt decide out of the others. it may have to be decided on price or colour which i also have no clue on, or particle size, and texture (e.g pumice or clay or easily crushable etc, all these properties will be a factor but thats why i need someone who has used them!)

 

[aaronnorth]

why would you want more than akadama and aquabsis? 2 substrates is usually the most people use, not many go into more than this unless it is a micxture of quartz gravel, etc.

If it was me i would go with the tropica as it has a high CEC, capped with gravel. You could have the aquabasis on the very bottom if you wish.

The ferplast & tetraplant are very similar to the aquabasis anyway.

 

[Nick16]

aaron whats CEC?

 

[aaronnorth]

aaron whats CEC?

Cation Exchange capacity. It draws positive elemnets (cations) into the substrate like Mg+, Ca+, K+ to make them available to plant roots.

 

[Nick16]

looks like i will get that, i dont need the big bag. i might try an experiment and have tropica substrate on one island and Aquabasis on the other. and then see which grows best. does that sound good? or am i being wierd :?:

 

[johnny33]

Re: What Substrate Do I need?

How many kilos of TetraPlant Complete Substrate do I need to add to my aquarium ( 240 Litre ) and what other thing do I have to buy before adding the gravel?
I read on Aquarium books about plants and some books mentioned the Substrate Heating Cables are they any good and what Watts of Cable do I need?
Thank you
Johnny33

 

[BINKSY1973]

Hi Johnny

First off you do not need heating cables, there are plenty of topics on here about them.

Second the following link will help to calculate sustrate for you.

http://www.plantedtank.net/substratecalculator.html

Cheers Gordon.

 

[BINKSY1973]

Also says on the following link that one 5.8kg tub will do for a 120l Aquarium, so 2 tubs should do.

http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=487

Cheers Gordon.