Need Advise: Can HC carpet be done on sand substrate?

[Jason]

I have recently reset my tank, and like to explore the dry start method. I like the look of carpet grass such as HC with some exposed bright sand in the aquascape with some wood and small rocks at the back. I need advise if it is possible to grow carpet grass on bright sand such as ADA La Plata sand mixed with some nutrient rich substrate like the Power Sand Specials.

please give me your advise or share your expeience. Thanks

[Urban Aquaria]

Its possible but if you are doing DSM, you'll need to add additional nutrients into the sand either in the form of inserting fertilizer tabs/sticks, or putting a layer of fertilizer mix just below the sand layer, or misting the sand with liquid fertilizer to saturate it with nutrients (but not too much until its water logged, as that will tend to grow algae and mold instead). The main objective is to give the newly planted HC roots ample opportunity to obtain nutrients as easily as possible from the start.

Note that ADA power sand is not really sand, its actually more like porous rocks, and since its meant to be used in conjunction with ADA aquasoil, the power sand special nutrients content on its own may not be as high as aquasoil, so you'll probably still need to add more macro/micro nutrients to support the HC growth.

[adidasvintage]

Hi UA, just another question that may benefit Jason. I noticed that the PH will be quite high(around if solely using sand(example ADA La plata), is this suitable for plant? Asking as I understand that planted tank and shrimp tank need lower PH water.

[Urban Aquaria]

Hi UA, just another question that may benefit Jason. I noticed that the PH will be quite high(around 8 ) if solely using sand(example ADA La plata), is this suitable for plant? Asking as I understand that planted tank and shrimp tank need lower PH water.

Yeah, tanks which use only sand substrate tend to maintain higher pH initially as there isn't any other buffers (ie. active soil) to keep the pH low, and our local tap water pH is usually on the alkaline side too. Certain sand substrates are also not entirely inert, so they contribute to raising pH too (always check the sand type and wash it thoroughly before usage).

Although lower pH conditions are usually more beneficial to plant growth, most plants can still adapt to higher pH conditions and grow too, so its usually not an issue. Though for fishes or shrimps that require or have been raised in lower pH conditions, either you need to slowly acclimatize them to the higher pH environment or use other ways to lower and maintain the pH to their requirements (ie. RO/DI water, drift wood, ketapang leaves, extracts or other additives).

Note that as the tank matures and organic compounds build up (along with increased beneficial bacteria activity), the pH will usually also drop gradually and quite often the tank's environment naturally becomes slightly acidic over time too.

[Ingen]

I had HC growing on sands after flooding to the extend I had to remove them to reveal the sandy path I wanted to create but failed miserably, never tried on DSM though.

[Jason]

Hi guys,

Thanks for sharing. Given the info, I will lay a layer of ADA power sand special at bottom, and fill with ADA Aqua soil from my old tank, follow by a layer of sand at some selected area.

[Ingen]

Hi guys,

Thanks for sharing. Given the info, I will lay a layer of ADA power sand special at bottom, and fill with ADA Aqua soil from my old tank, follow by a layer of sand at some selected area.

Depending on the size of your soil and sands, the sands may eventually slip in-between and "sink" below the soil.

[sfk7]

How about grow a nice carpet of HC first on the usual ada amazonia or other fertile substrate? Then trim away where u want the path or area that you want the sand to be and lay some sand over the cleared portion. Success rate will be higher in all ways in my opinion