Special plant substrate, yes or no?

[Avi]

Is it really worth it to dish out £50+ on substrate alone:
Iv just got my 75G tank woop preparing to set it up and snag

iv made a small collection of substrates please can you guys advise on whats best

1. Seachem flourite :- hard to find will cost me £70
http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Flourite.html

2. Tetra complete :- will cost me £30 + pea gravel
http://www.redseafish.com/Product.asp?dir=y&CatId=99&SubID=61&proID=237

3. Red sea plant:- Will cost me £125
http://www.redseafish.com/Product.asp?dir=y&CatId=99&SubID=61&proID=237

4. CaribSea eco-complete :- £40
http://www.caribsea.com/pages/products/planted_aquar.html

5. None of the above normal substrate (advise on best) + fert tabs

free with: http://www.aquatics-direct.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=978&categoryID=284

any comments on where im buying plants from i also have this 1:

http://www.plantsalive.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=49

alot of reasearch but what do the pros say

personaly id prefer a red or white substrate as i have a black background (dont want black sand do i? wont look right, or will it) i hate that beige sand colour tho!!

over to you guys...

 

[Avi]

Also thort id say:

Tank: 67" x 12" x 24" high
Filter 1x fx5
substrate: in debate
lighting: 4 x 54w t5 plant pro (coming soon, 2 x 54w marine whie atm)
co2 - red sea yeast sugar mix
New set up about to take place im upgrading from my 30G

 

[seattle_530]

if you are serious about doing a planted tank go to Aquaticplantcentral.com all of you questions will be answered.

 

[cassharper]

Trust me, black background with black sand/gravel looks awesome to pop out colors in fish and plants!

Personally, with prices like 140 pounds (that'd be close to $250 USD right?) I'd go with root tabs. Sure you aren't going to see quite as much growth and will have to dose ferts, but that's insane for substrate.

It's just all about preference and the results you want to see.

 

[Avi]

£140 is more like $300 lol... yeah rediculous for sum of them but the tetra stuff works out to about £50 so $100 which i guess if its gunn last is... doable... hmm not reeli
i mite just go for sand and let the fish do sm natural fertilisation

 

[schaadrak]

About 3.5cm - 4cm of topsoil capped with a layer of gravel or sand of the same thickness will do pretty well if your on a tight budget.

 

[Aquai]

Not worth it imo, just go for a decent sand substrate, pop in some fertilisers, most plants don't need it from my experience...What you gonna keep plant-wise mate?