bkiggy
Aquarium Advice Addict
Changing over my tank from gravel to sand will live plants live in sand
Like dirt, dirt ?Actually better than in gravel! That said I do dirted with a sand cap
How do you clean it? I have a python, but you can't "suck up" stuff like you do gravelActually better than in gravel! That said I do dirted with a sand cap
Flourite, or eco complete which ever I can findI'll take a different approach.
@bkiggy what type of sand are you changing over to?
Play sand = dirty and fine grain = possibility (can be debated) for nasty anaerobic pockets and compaction
Blasting sand/Pool filter sand = less dirty and larger uniform grain size = less chance of compaction and anaerobic pockets
Now, most sand is completely inert with little Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) so, you will have to supplement fertilizer just like regular gravel either into the water column or into the sand bed or both (I'll recommend both).
So yes, sand can grow plants by itself. (Many other possibilities including dirt with sand cap and planted tank specific sand ex: fluorite black sand $$)
Or Caribsea substrateI'll take a different approach.
@bkiggy what type of sand are you changing over to?
Play sand = dirty and fine grain = possibility (can be debated) for nasty anaerobic pockets and compaction
Blasting sand/Pool filter sand = less dirty and larger uniform grain size = less chance of compaction and anaerobic pockets
Now, most sand is completely inert with little Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) so, you will have to supplement fertilizer just like regular gravel either into the water column or into the sand bed or both (I'll recommend both).
So yes, sand can grow plants by itself. (Many other possibilities including dirt with sand cap and planted tank specific sand ex: fluorite black sand $$)
Maybe just flourite, eco complete , or caribsea by itself ....... which ever is the finestDirt is addictive! play sand is worse to deal with by far!
I would like to NOT have anaerobic pocketsI'll take a different approach.
@bkiggy what type of sand are you changing over to?
Play sand = dirty and fine grain = possibility (can be debated) for nasty anaerobic pockets and compaction
Blasting sand/Pool filter sand = less dirty and larger uniform grain size = less chance of compaction and anaerobic pockets
Now, most sand is completely inert with little Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) so, you will have to supplement fertilizer just like regular gravel either into the water column or into the sand bed or both (I'll recommend both).
So yes, sand can grow plants by itself. (Many other possibilities including dirt with sand cap and planted tank specific sand ex: fluorite black sand $$)
I would like to NOT have anaerobic pockets
Beneficial processes occur in areas of low oxygen such as denitrification and the reduction of plant unavailable ferric iron to plant available ferrous iron. There is no real need to try to keep it oxygenated. If the plants are growing as they should they will oxygenate the root zone.
Have faith in the microbes.
I would like to NOT have anaerobic pockets