What substrates is everyone using?

[Gourami Swami]

The substrate you used is probably eco complete like A adamsfishes says. It is an inert substrate, the idea is that it's porous and will grab on to fertilizers in the water column and then slowly release them. Not my favorite substrate because unless you do fertilize, it's basically gravel. But I've used it in the past as well (before the advent of aquasoil-type substrates) and it seemed to work fine for some plants.

 

[FIU Panther]

I used to have a 29g dirted tank with a pool filter sand cap, everything grew very well but it was a mess if you had to uproot anything. That tank was barely ever fertilized.

I currently use pool filter sand in my current 125g planted tank. I use root tabs, dry fertilizers, and co2. Everything grows gang busters and I can uproot and replant without making a mess. It's especially useful when trimming stems plants, I can just grab the bunch, pull them out, trim and replant.

If you're going with commonly available plants you'll be fine with PFS as long as you do some fertilization/root tabs.

 

[dr exum]

Thanks everyone. I used a substrate that I had in a bucket. Idk what it even is, but I remember when I bought it they said it was for planted tanks. I forgot I even had it. It looks like crushed lava rock. Anyway that's layered under home Depot play sand



I thought of using this method, I'm just nervous that the fish would disturb it and the soil would ruin the tank.

you got pics of this? Got two bare 75’s that id like to plant eventually, used some active flora in a 20 g as test, been mainly using small gravel with tabs and mediocre success...

 

[dr exum]

Anyone like activ flora?

 

[Chris40]

My best planted tanks were dirt tanks capped with an inch or so of sand. I've tried various types, such as Miracle Grow Organic Soil and some similar others.

 

[Chris40]

I've also made (and sold) tens of 1000's of Osmocote Plus root tabs. Very cost effective and they work! Make sure to use the Osmocote Plus though, not just regular Osmocote, as the "Plus" contains the micronutrients that many others don't.

 

[Hendre]

I've also made (and sold) tens of 1000's of Osmocote Plus root tabs. Very cost effective and they work! Make sure to use the Osmocote Plus though, not just regular Osmocote, as the "Plus" contains the micronutrients that many others don't.

I also use this. Recently added for my new swords which were melting so I'll see how they work

 

[mrrobxc]

Just got some Saf T Sorb for my new build. It’s a baked clay gravel that has incredibly high CEC. I’ll do a build thread soon.

 

[tigerbob]

I actually had a tank that technically had no substrate but was heavily planted. It was bare bottom but with the bottom covered with driftwood sticks cut to size then bundled together to let water flow through and let the plants take root. I used Anubias nana and Anubias petite exclusively for this as they do well on driftwood and I am a fan of Anubias.

Hi fishhead, could you share some pictures of this set up? This is really unique.

 

[fishhead0103666]

I never took any pictures before I dismantled the tank, sorry comrade.