aquarium substrate - Aquarium Advice

oliver moggridge · 05-03-2009, 05:18 AM

hi im thinking of referbishing my tank and i want to know what the best substrate to use is? I have coolie loach, 5 golden tetras, 5 neon tetras, 5 ember tetras, 3 panda catfish, 1 male siamese fihghter and 2 female siamese fighters. i want my plants to grow well as they arent doing very well in just gravel. can anyone help with findng a good substrate for plants. thanx

WhiteDevil · 05-03-2009, 10:44 AM

I got some of the same fish, I use sand and it will sustain plant life.

**jsoong** · 05-03-2009, 04:12 PM

Depends on what plants & light you have as to "best" substrate. For a low light tank, you don't need any of the fancy "nutrient" substrate like ecocomplete. Coarse sand (like pool filter sand) is good. Inert plant substrate like Schultz Aquasoil are other possibilities.

mgamer20o0 · 05-03-2009, 04:31 PM

prob not your substrate but the best is ada but you do pay for it.

oliver moggridge · 05-04-2009, 11:49 AM

i bought some eco complete and was just wondering the best way to use it. can i spread it out on the botton nd then put my gravel on top?

severum mama · 05-05-2009, 12:20 PM

There's no need to put your gravel on top. What kind of lighting do you use? If your lighting is inadequate for plants, then they won't grow no matter what kind of substrate you use.

Unfortunately, I doubt that your bettas will coexist peacefully in the same tank.

WhiteDevil · 05-05-2009, 12:30 PM

After this ordeal id really check those cetrain tetras out, read owners comments not just the techie stuff on em. I am getting rid of all my tetras but 5 neons( a little bigger then cardinals right now) due to them attacking my betta, i got em in the act a few hours ago.

oliver moggridge · 05-05-2009, 12:31 PM

im not sure what type the light is but its a double strip light that came with the tank when i bought itso they are probably just normal lights! what lights do you recomend anyway? the bettas seem fine with oneanother also i was told that 2 females are aloud to be with one male! and the tetras dont seem to bother the bettas.

severum mama · 05-05-2009, 12:39 PM

What size is your tank? For smaller tanks, a twin-tube strip should be fine for low light plants. As for the bettas, I've always heard that males and females should be kept separately except during spawning, then the female should be removed. If it seems to be working out, just keep an eye on them for now.

oliver moggridge · 05-05-2009, 12:45 PM

100 liter. ok cool. but how do i know if the plants that i have are low level or high level light plants?