Best substrate for a 10g planted tank?

[Kristian Tombs]

Bored of my unnaturally coloured gravel. What is a good natural looking substrate which is beneficial for plants?
Is Eco-complete any good?

 

[wildroseofky]

Pool filter sand, Black Diamond blasting sand, Miracle Grow organic all work well. You can also get bagged soil/substrate just for planted aquariums.

 

[Kristian Tombs]

Pool filter sand, Black Diamond blasting sand, Miracle Grow organic all work well. You can also get bagged soil/substrate just for planted aquariums.

i was thinking of having a plant substrate with sand on top is this possible?

 

[TankMan7]

I have Ecocomplete capped with black diamond blasting sand. Best of both worlds.

 

[Kristian Tombs]

I have Ecocomplete capped with black diamond blasting sand. Best of both worlds.

I'm gonna go for Eco-complete on its own as it's quite dark anyway. And. I'm 14 so moneys tight

 

[TankMan7]

Just FYI - that blasting sand is like $8 for 50 pounds if that helps any. Good luck!

 

[Kristian Tombs]

Just FYI - that blasting sand is like $8 for 50 pounds if that helps any. Good luck!

Would an aquarium with black blasting sand and a black background look good?

 

[Fresh2o]

Would an aquarium with black blasting sand and a black background look good?

Yes. It makes colors pop (plants, fish, rocks). I think it also adds depth. Just the perception of depth.

 

[TankMan7]

I love the dark substrate. Plants look great in it.

 

[Kristian Tombs]

I love the dark substrate. Plants look great in it.

is eco-complete black?

 

[TankMan7]

It is. Not very fine, though, which is why I capped it so the dwarf baby tears would have a little more to grab onto.

 

[tiger terror]

is eco-complete black?

Comes black&red..here's a pic of one of my 10g's with black eco-complete&a black painted on background...I'll post another pic of it after 2 weeks when lights come on later...

 

[tiger terror]

The Easter Island Head has been in all my tanks as they began for good luck..

 

[Fresh2o]

is eco-complete black?

Comes in black and red as the other poster mentioned. The black does have a few non-black grains as well (red, gray, tan) which is why it is sometimes capped.

There is a fine grain version of EcoComplete that recently became available.

 

[Kristian Tombs]

The Easter Island Head has been in all my tanks as they began for good luck..

Looks awesome. I'll try and describe my tank at the moment. Two pieces of bogwood at the back in the middle place vertically one with anubias nana and the other with anubias nana bonsai. Underneath those two pieces is another of bogwood with java fern on it. That piece is slanted forward to give the allusion the java fern is coming out from underneath the Anubias. I'll upload a picture next weekend when I've got the silicone to make it permanent. In the front of the tank I have two pieces of bogwood with java moss on them to act as focal points on either side.

This month I will be changing to eco complete. I'm already using root tabs, liquid fertiliser and liquid co2. I just need to find out my lighting. Because I don't know
Then I will be stocking with rooting plants. Thinking of a carpet of baby dwarf tears in the front behind that a carpet of dwarf hair grass the two carpets will be separated by the two small pieces of bogwood along the sides of the tank a collection of crypts and as background plants elodea dense on the right and anacharis on left.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[tiger terror]

Updated pic as of today...

 

[Fresh2o]

This month I will be changing to eco complete. I'm already using root tabs, liquid fertiliser and liquid co2. I just need to find out my lighting. Because I don't know
Then I will be stocking with rooting plants. Thinking of a carpet of baby dwarf tears in the front behind that a carpet of dwarf hair grass the two carpets will be separated by the two small pieces of bogwood along the sides of the tank a collection of crypts and as background plants elodea dense on the right and anacharis on left.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I think the the DHG and DBT will require pressurized CO2 and pretty decent lighting.

 

[Jkeating8]

I like the look of the tank.

 

[Kristian Tombs]

Isn't pressurised co2 really expensive?

 

[TankMan7]

I am growing dwarf baby tears with liquid carbon, DIY CO2 and good light and it is growing very well. It can be done no problem. Good luck and let me know if I can help in any way.