Light colored substrate

[deb_unlimited]

I am planting a couple of 10 gallon tanks and want to use very light colored sand for the bottom. I know I need something else for the plants to be healthy. I have Eco-Complete which I plan to use in my 30 gallon because I want a dark substrate for my fish. What can I use in the smaller tanks that won't look awful with the white sand layer?

 

[jetajockey]

You could just do a
straight sand substrate and add root tabs for supplementation.

 

[DanTheGuppyMan]

You could just do a
straight sand substrate and add root tabs for supplementation.

I agree, or you could use a layer of Eco-complete with a deep sand cap

 

[Autumnsky]

Sand works fine.

But I have to say with the planted tank and light/white sand I got sick of mine pretty quick due to the crumbly muck especially coming off of driftwood, not looking the best, even with routine vac, which tends to pull up plants/roots so for me is a no win situation. Just a thought, black sand and natural sand

I had white sand for almost 2 years no problem when I didn't have a planted tank! lol

 

[deb_unlimited]

Two layer look

I agree, or you could use a layer of
Eco-complete with a deep sand cap

That's what I used initially but it looks like a layer cake. I suppose I could vary the depth of the Eco so that it isn't very thick in front where there aren't many plants and have it thicker away from the glass. Then I won't have the two-layer look. I think I answered my own question. Hey thanks all for giving my brain a good stir! I currently have playground sand in the tank and I may just use that instead of the really fine stuff.

 

[DanTheGuppyMan]

That's what I used initially but it looks like a layer cake. I suppose I could vary the depth of the Eco so that it is very think in front where there aren't many plants and have it thicker away from the glass. Then I won't have the two-layer look. I think I answered my own question. Hey thanks all for giving my brain a good stir! I currently have playground sand in the tank and I may just use that instead of the really fine stuff.

Haha, yeah, I don't like that layered look as well and varying the depth of each substrate so that you only see what you want to see is a good idea. Playground sand should do fine and I used that really fine stuff in one of my past tanks and I found that it was always a mess and cloudy.