Planted Tank substrate height.

[loupgarou]

I'm plotting my new tank's substrate requirements.

I suppose my current 4ft tank substrate is rather too much at 9cm height.

I've currently have (estimated) 55866 cm3 of fluorite.
*density = 1.46kg = 1 litre

150 x 60 x ? = 55866
that means a 6.2 cm height substrate layer in a 5ft x 2ft x 2ft tank.

I will be keeping echinodorus sp.

should I get increase the substrate height?

[Simon]

i supposed if the substrate is sloping, its easier to manage different level plants. are you intending to slope the substrate? for echinodorus, u need to occasionally add root monster, they 'suck' up nutrients from the base fert. pretty fast. I go with a thick base fert and a thin layer of gravel. a thicker substrate will mean bigger echinodorus

[loupgarou]

yeah. but unless I put in some acrylic + fluorite stuck on it , its kind of difficult to maintain a slope..

[loupgarou]

I think I'll stick to the proposed height for now.. maybe that way balansae and aponogetonifolia can hit the roof.

[Simon]

if you put arylic sheets to maintain the slope, you also prevent the roots for spreading out. Is it a good/bad idea? some plants including echinodorus does have a pretty complex rooting system. if u prevent it from spreading, will it retard the growth?

[hmph]

my substrate's about 10-11cm.....for a 4 ft.