Using Decorative Sand only

[frothhelmet]

Aquascapers are often mixing dark coloured soils with light coloured sands. Of course, then you have to deal with any unsightly mixing that will occur which is annoying. Why not use decorative sand only? If you dose enough ferts and/or place fert tabs by plant roots what is the difference? Are there really some plants that wont grow in plain gravel period?

 

[AdAndrews]

It is possible to have a planted tank-even high tech, with an inert, no nutrient enriched substrate. Although this places all the emphasis on dosing into the water column, I believe it to give scope for mistakes and if nutrient levels drop and if plants suddenly need more, they can suck them up through the roots.

Plants such as Crypts really enjoy a rich substrate IMO, and I have struggled in the past with basic non fertilised gravel.

Adam