Substrate

[Lokkzer]

I have a 37 gallon tank im gonna start. I have 60 lbs of black tahitian moon sand. I want to get maybe a sword or two. But my main item to buy is a back wall of anachris and ferns as foreground. Will they be ok in just sand and some flourish added weekly? Will 20 lbs of Eco-complete do ok in the middle of a sandwich of sand?

Please advise. Thanks

 

[jetajockey]

They'll do fine in just sand. I'd just add some root tabs in the area they are planted and let it rock. 60lbs sounds like a bit much but I don't know what your dimensions are or how deep you wanted it to be.

 

[Lokkzer]

Yeah. I got a lot just in case it wasn't enough, the whole 1lb per gallon rule. Plus I wanted extra for a smaller tank I'm getting in the future.

 

[jetajockey]

that's cool. The lb/gallon thing kinda goes out the window depending on your tank dimensions, but is definitely a good rough estimate. One example is the 40g breeder tank dimensions. it has 4.5 sq feet of surface area versus 4 sq feet surface are of a standard 55 gallon.

 

[Lokkzer]

Will snails be ok with sand substrate? Or will they mostly stick to the glass anyway?

 

[jetajockey]

Yeah they'll be fine. Malaysian trumpet snails actually prefer sand