Best aquarium substrate NOT dirt???

Maybe brand names? Suggestions personal accounts, getting planted aquarium substrate soon for 40 wanna make right choice!

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael on July 22, 2013 at 12:33am

In my experience organic potting soil is always the best choice. It is also by far the cheapest. cant go wrong with dirt, the only thing other substrates may have is added Iron.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael on July 22, 2013 at 12:34am

AKA flourish brand, expensive though.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter on July 22, 2013 at 12:44pm

The best is watever u like most. I dont like dirt because if u move plants u have to do extra work to clean mess up. Other than that its a good sub. I personally really like mraqua activated soil its pricey buy like dirt full of nutrients and i can move plants n e time i want even big root plants like swords. In a dirt tank moing a sword would near ruin ur tank. Second after that i like flourite whih is just expensive clay but meh

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alex Ayala on July 23, 2013 at 11:58am

eco complete or fluval flora substrate

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on July 26, 2013 at 4:09pm

Plants feed off of nutrients in the substrate. Whatever substrate contains the right amount of proper nutrients is the best substrate. Two other things to look for:

1) CEC. That's the ability of substrate to suck up things like iron and hold it for the roots. Aquarium gravel has no CEC value.

2) Size. Substrate must be loose enough to let roots spread. A compact substrate will also encourage pockets of anaerobic bacteria. Nothing wrong with anaerobes unless you disturb the substrate. Then poisonous gas will escape into the water.

Floating plants are the best. Their roots add to a fish's a sense of security and they suck up waste in the water - nature's filter. Some municipalities run sewage through dense mats of Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinths. Water enters foul and exits clean.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ASC on July 28, 2013 at 6:51pm

ime, eco complete is pretty good, or netlea soil

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hunter P. on July 30, 2013 at 9:25pm

safetsorb. just cheao flourite

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nick Hill on November 28, 2013 at 3:22pm

I use flourite dark. Iv seen significant growth. I mixed it with a dark gravel it looks good as well.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by OceanLife69 on November 30, 2013 at 12:50am

Check out Mr. Aqua Aquarium Soil, simply the best.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter on November 30, 2013 at 1:26am

totally agree!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by DePreston on November 30, 2013 at 8:13am

I have never used dirt and I have had tanks for decades. I have a 90 with about 4 inches of gravel, natural colors, with a single water wisteria (hygro phila difformis) that has nearly taken over the tank. A very healthy simple to grow plant. If I didn't go in there and mow it down every 2 weeks, it would fill the entire tank. I have never used dirt so I am not an expert, but all my tanks since I was a kid had gravel and I am not sure I will change it. It is easy to clean, I can't imagine vacuuming dirt. So that is my opinion, what it's worth.