Ken Loach
Member
Would like to hear your thoughts on all-in-one substrates for a planted Fluval Flex 34L tank? This will be a lo-tech build with "easy" plant species and I intend to keep small Tetras and shrimps and a Nerite.
I like the look of Seachem Fluorite Dark and CaribSea Eco Complete and a trusted local aquarium shop recommends TMC Nutra Soil.
This will be my first tank since the 70's and I'm looking forward to it immensely.
I like the look of Seachem Fluorite Dark and CaribSea Eco Complete and a trusted local aquarium shop recommends TMC Nutra Soil.
This will be my first tank since the 70's and I'm looking forward to it immensely.
I hope you don't mind me chiming in with all my two post experience but would say that I'm a tropcia fan all the way. Haven't used their soil or powder products yet but the under the substrate stuff is top notch. My trigon was planted approx. 10 years ago and has gone through all sorts of incarnations in that time with all sorts of plants. I've gone from PMDD to Walstad-esque styled tanks and its stood the test. I had tried soil at the very start and was put off doing it again when I had to move the aquarium. When it emptied the soil bottom stank like sewage (well not quite but you get the drift) and I still to this day have horrors about the aroma. I think my community of snails would've helped turn it over with hindsight but it put me off and I went to tropica. What I would say tho is get some greenhouse screening (I think) fine mesh to go over that before substrate if you use cause any time I up root any plants with decent root mass it's pea soup so only do it if essential and on water change days.