Best ground cover??

[piao liang yu]

I would like to "carpet" the substrate. I have black sand, but it is very difficult to vacuum as I cannot see what I am doing. I have good light in the room, but it just not reflect well into the tank and the two times I have tried to vacuum the bottom I accidentally sucked up a fish so now I only dip water out into a bucket to remove water and refill with my water changer. I understand by not vacuuming the bottom I leave behind a lot of waste, but it just isn't an option. So I am thinking if I cover the bottom with a "carpet" it would recycle the waste. What is best. I have some java moss, but it is slow growing due to my lighting. Note: I plan to get a colony of red cherry shrimp going if that matters.

I saw on aquariumplants.com they have a ground cover mat like a 10x10, but it is close to $40. Don't remember what it was called. Anyway, is this my best option? If not, any suggestions/recommendations would help.

Thanks.

 

[bud29]

What lighting do you have? In order to get a good carpeting effect, you really cannot skimp on light or co2. I wouldn't fret ALL that much about not being able to vacuum the substrate, with a good pwc schedule the ammonia should not have enough time to build up into toxic levels.

 

[piao liang yu]

What lighting do you have? In order to get a good carpeting effect, you really cannot skimp on light or co2. I wouldn't fret ALL that much about not being able to vacuum the substrate, with a good pwc schedule the ammonia should not have enough time to build up into toxic levels.

I have two 17 watt t8 fixtures on my 60 gallon. Pretty much useless for plants. I only have low light plants right now. I dose with seachem flourish and api c02 booster supplement. (no actual c02 injection)

I do anywhere from 25% to 50% pwc's weekly without compromise.

 

[bud29]

I have two 17 watt t8 fixtures on my 60 gallon. Pretty much useless for plants. I only have low light plants right now. I dose with seachem flourish and api c02 booster supplement. (no actual c02 injection)

I do anywhere from 25% to 50% pwc's weekly without compromise.

Yes, you would definitely need to upgrade lighting in order to get any sort of carpet.

 

[DanTheGuppyMan]

I had a dual T5HO on my 60g and I still had to upgrade my lighting to get a carpet going..