Richard Dowling
Member
Hi All,
Im in the middle of planning a new tank layout and have ordered cO2, extra lighting etc. Plantwise I have pretty much decided on:
Marsilea hirsuta
Anubias barteri var. nana
Sagittaria platyphylla
Microsorum pteropus (attached to bog root wood)
Im now weighing up my options for substrates. I have been to 2 different pet shops this evening and cannot find anything that looks even half naturalistic!! All they sell is the painted colourful junk!
I was planning on using John Innes Compost No.1, 2 or 3 as a base layer (but couldnt find any garden stores that had that in stock either) and then having a normal aquarium substrate on top. Firstly can anyone suggest whether John Innes 1 2 or 3 is better? or even if there are other cheap options for base layers? I had considered Tetraplant substrate but am now aware that cheaper & effective options are out there.
For my top substrate layer the look im after is a brown (not too bright in colour) porous substrate. I quite like the appearance of Akadama & Fluval Stratum type substrates.
Can anyone advise me of the substrates that are available that give the look that im after? I can be one to rearrange my plants fairly regularly so it cant be too crumbly. I also prefer the smaller grades of substrate (not too large pieces)
Thanks for your help
Im in the middle of planning a new tank layout and have ordered cO2, extra lighting etc. Plantwise I have pretty much decided on:
Marsilea hirsuta
Anubias barteri var. nana
Sagittaria platyphylla
Microsorum pteropus (attached to bog root wood)
Im now weighing up my options for substrates. I have been to 2 different pet shops this evening and cannot find anything that looks even half naturalistic!! All they sell is the painted colourful junk!
I was planning on using John Innes Compost No.1, 2 or 3 as a base layer (but couldnt find any garden stores that had that in stock either) and then having a normal aquarium substrate on top. Firstly can anyone suggest whether John Innes 1 2 or 3 is better? or even if there are other cheap options for base layers? I had considered Tetraplant substrate but am now aware that cheaper & effective options are out there.
For my top substrate layer the look im after is a brown (not too bright in colour) porous substrate. I quite like the appearance of Akadama & Fluval Stratum type substrates.
Can anyone advise me of the substrates that are available that give the look that im after? I can be one to rearrange my plants fairly regularly so it cant be too crumbly. I also prefer the smaller grades of substrate (not too large pieces)
Thanks for your help