How Deep is Your Substrate?

[hmph]

Hi all,just wanna check how deep is your tank's substrate (incl. base fert). My tank is 120 (length) x 43 (width) x 55 (height) and am thinking of layering a 10cm substrate.

Is it overkill for a planted tank?

[juggler]

Substrate = base fertiliser + gravel

For me, I would use about 1" (at most 1.5&quot for the top gravel. This would enable the plant roots to get to the base fertiliser. 10cm substrate is OK. Some people lay gravel, then base fert and topped up by gravel again to make their substrate.

BTW - my substrate is 3". That's about 7.5cm.

[hmph]

I will be using ada aquasoil (amazonia) for the tank. Does this mean i can use less base fert?

[theodore]

Thickness of the substrate is also dependent on your choice of plants. I will go for a thicker substrate (8-10cm in total) if I'm are going for heavy root feeders like large Echinodorus swords and Nymphaea lilies. I may choose to have a thinner substrate (5-7cm) if I'm going Dutch. Most stem plants are unlikely to develop thick, long roots (>15cm) since regular maintenance involves cutting and replanting the top.

My 2ft tank has 2cm basefert (JBL) with 4-6cm of gravel on top. My new low-light 1.5ft has only 1cm basefert (horti moss) with 3-4cm of gravel on top.

[Kingfisher]

Do you all slope the substrate?

[Irwan78]

Hi,
For me, I have a 2 inches gravel + 1 inch of flourite gravel.
I think i over did it on the substrate....but plants growing fine.

[fissssshy]

is it necessary to have base fertilizer and how much
would it be able if i use tetra initial sticks

[sherchoo]

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On 10/13/2003 10:51:46 AM

I will be using ada aquasoil (amazonia) for the tank. Does this mean i can use less base fert?
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If you're using ADA Aquasoil, there's shouldn't be any need for base fert. Maybe you could go for 2~3" of substrate of Aqausoil. Not really experinced in this area, maybe someone more familiar could comment.

[kadios]

I read from a book b4 that sloping the substrate is for the purpose of better water circulation since we usually place our filter inlet and outlet at the back of the tank. However, the substrate seems to level down over time when we disturb the substrate during replanting.

Cheers!

[tawauboy]

don't know about the better water circulation purpose but ultimately plants will impede some flow. to reduce the gravel sloping from levelling too much, you can add drift wood or rocks.

[tawauboy]

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is it necessary to have base fertilizer and how much
would it be able if i use tetra initial sticks
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base fertiliser is not an absolute must. it is good/recommended to have.
if you have setup your tank without base fertiliser, you need not tear down your tank and redo.
fertiliser sticks can be inserted into the gravel for heavy root feeder plants, while water column fertilisation will take car of stem plants.