Heated Substrate?

[pipsqueak]

Besides checking water parametres to ensure healthy plant growth, what about Heating substrates?

#helps prevent "Dead spots" (when roots hit the 'dead spots' the roots starts to rot)
*Can this be countered by plating densely?

#circulates the water in the substrate
*makes plants more healthy. *In nature, the earth is heated by earth, ie: hot mantle under the earths crust heat up earth, proving natural circulation*

Question: 1)What are the Long/Short Term benefits?
2)Is it really necessary? Considering that the ultimate goal is to achieve healthy plants.


Need opinions, comments or advice!

[budak]

A disputable luxury. Some folks swear by them, but just as many (or more) grow plants well without. I would consider good water circulation above the substrate as more vital.

Old discussion on the topic are here:
click here
click here
click here

You can also search the forum on your own using the search parameters heat AND 'base', 'substrate' or 'undergravel'.

[timebomb]

Question: 1)What are the Long/Short Term benefits?
2)Is it really necessary? Considering that the ultimate goal is to achieve healthy plants.
----------------
I don't know if undergravel heating cables really work but I like to relate something I've heard. There was this guy who came from Holland last year to visit Aquarama. He's a French guy actually but works for an aquatic plant import/exporter in Holland. He visited me several times and we had many long discussions about plants and all. And he told me:

His company conducted experiments on the usefulness of undergravel heating cables by setting up tanks side by side with the same parameters, same equipment, same fish load and same amount of plants. He said they weigh every plant to make sure everything's the same. Only difference between the tanks was that some had undergravel heating while others did not.

After a couple of months, they took out all the plants from the tanks and weigh them again. Guess what? The total weight of the plants from the 2 different tanks was exactly the same. In other words, undergravel heating made no difference.

Loh K L

[pipsqueak]

hmm, thanks alot timebomb, and also once again thanks for introducing me here! its me! [email protected] .

And yes, a follow up, what are the effects on squarish round edged gravel? i'm talking abt then kind where it looks like they just grind it into small 3mm gravel, and it wasnt rounded off like Dennerle gravel. My question is, do this type of substrates cause any harm to plant roots, and bottom dwellers?

I hear they damage the barbels of bottom dwellers, but is it because of the fishes 'careless-ness' or its just too darn sharp?

[benny]

On the subject of substrate heater providing circulation, would a reverse flow under gravel filter with a slow flow rate be just a efficient?

Cheers,

[David]

Hiya K.L.

I won't totally disagree with what you have said...but I do say that the substrate heater till today is a very highly disputed concept for the planted tank. While your friend has conducted his experiment and has reached a conclusion, I would tend to believe that companies who manufacture and promote substrate heater would have their set of experiments and conclusion. However which ever the case, I would say that it is an option to consider to prevent anaerobic pockets. The bigger the tank the higher the consideration.

Hi Pipsqueak

The beauty of Dennerle grave is that it is rounded and does not cut, plus the fact that they have a pretty good selection of colors. If you happen to have dicus and cories, yes it would be good insurance to get this particular brand. On the other hand, some of my friends have used other brand of gravel of some standard (that was before the Dennerle Gravel is available) and had not much problem with their cories.

[cks]

david,
i've sent you a fax on this topic . maybe it iwiil support your believe on under gravel heaters .

[bclee]

I always have the impression that anaerobic pockets of the substrate is not at all bad... I have not had any problem with pockets of anaerobic substrates in my tank.

I thought it helps the reduction process of some nutrients, like Fe, so that plants can take them up... not too sure about that... maybe some botanist or biologist can help in this?

BC

[David]

hi cks

received your fax...thanks

hi bclee

it then depends...if your plants are heavy rooters and healthy, they will supply enough oxygen to keep anaerobic pockets in check. However if this balance swings into the direction of the anaerobic bacteria, it can quickly destroy the roots system of your plants through Hydrogen Sulphite poisioning. If such pocket occupies 40% of your tank, dont think the tank will do well anymore.

A little experiment can prove this point. get any plant (Spadderdock) with a big bulb. Bury it as deep as one can to ensure that the bulb will rot. Observe the healthy plants around the rotting area after 2 to 3 weeks.

[Allen_1971]

my own opinion of substrate heating cables are that they help prolong the life of the substrate. In other words, if you're gonna keep your substrate running for years on end, then SHC are a good thing to have... if not, and you redo your substrate every few years, than don't bother with them

[pipsqueak]

hmm,i think allen just gave me a better understanding, thanks.

[David]

eerhh Allen

how does it prolong the substrate life?...the substrate is dead anyway...whahahahahhaahaaa[](sorry allen...cannot resist that one) ..are you referring due to the slow water exchange between water column and substrate pulls the fish crap into the substrate, then decomposing to become fert?