Soil for planted freshwater tank

Hi, I'm going to buy New Amazonia Soil for my 180l freswater tank. Tank will be moderately planted. I have a question, do I need any extra substrates on the bottom layer? I heard ADA amazonia have everything what I need inside, I also heard I could need extra long term substrate like ADA Power Sand on the bottom. I'm a bit confused. I'm looking for advice please.

Adam

What most people don't realise is that a Substrates first function in a planted Tank is to anchor the Plants to the bottom, to prevent them from floating so to speak. It's second function is to aid in the transfer of nutrients to the Plants. The physical amounts of nutrients required to give rise to proper plant growth is really quite small, the largest being CO2 which is done via the Water itself whether through agitation of the surface where it enters the Water from the Air we breathe. It also can be supplied via CO2 systems or liquid CO2. Next are the macro nutrients, these are the big nutrients NP&K and lastly the micro nutrients of which there are many and are required in tiny amounts.

Most substrates take a long time to be diminished of micros, it's usually the Macros that go first. Your substrate technically comes loaded with all of the required types already incorporated but these will be used up over time, when this happens, your plants will have a washed out appearance and you'll probably notice Algae begins to take a hold.

No Substrate can provide food indefinitely but in my opinion, it doesn't need changing when it runs low on nutrients, retailers sell some excellent liquid foods that will put the goodnes back.

If you think of Bonsai Trees, they are kept small by reducing the amount of food available and by restricting the volume of the growing medium in addition to light regular pruning. These miniatures only get the surface few mm of substrate freshened every year and some of these are hundreds of years old.

You should be OK with your substrate for a considerable amount of time if you add CO2 and a good plant Fertilizer. When I started keeping Fish years ago, I had forests of greenery in 2 Inches of 8 mm cheap Gravel with no Ferts or fancy Substrates. Over thinking things can make things appear more difficult than they are.

One thing I must say, remember to wait a month until your substrate settles, it produces an amount of Ammonia that must be allowed to subside.

Kev.

Thank you for your help.