Plant Substrate

[spitz006]

I have a 75 with only an inch or two of fluorite. I think it was about 4 bags. I have a 20 gallon planted that's doing GREAT with just sand.. and I'm looking to combine the tanks. My question is, has anyone ever mixed sand with fluorite? What are the potential issues? I know it will work as far as growing plants goes... mainly I'm wondering if it will create problems because the sand will eventually work it's way to the bottom and the fluorite will all be on top, also I'm wondering, how will it look? If it's gonna look really stupid I guess I'll just buy more fluorite, it's just so damn expensive.

 

[everlastace]

Or buy more sand. It's cheap and plants love it. If you just get play sand at home depot, plants love it. It does increase PH quite often but it's like $5 for a 50 lb bag! I have black sand in my planted tank and i love the way the plants look on it.

 

[spitz006]

Do you have to do a lot of rinsing with that sand? and what is the best way to rinse it?

 

[jeremoose]

Just sprinkle an inch or so of sand across the flourite, works fine.

 

[everlastace]

black sand, no. Play sand, yes. The best way is to fill a 5 gallon bucket about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way, then fill the rest with water and stir it up. then poor off the water from the top and do that a couple times with each bucket.