Best substrate for planted Tank

Hi Guys
Gonna set up a planted thank 5 foot by 2 foot tank, was just looking for advice on best substrate
any advice would be great

Ive just set up a 180l planted tank, and after much research and deliberation chose ADA amazonia. Its by far the most expensive, my logic was to go with the best when it comes to substrate as if things dont work out, the thought of emptying the whole tank and restarting sounds like hell. Likewise as its my first planted set up, i wanted to minimise risk as the the tank progresses. Some say ADA is a marketing machine, all their gear is top price, and other products are just as good. It seems to be the professionals choice. Ive seen demo tanks in shops using JBL manado and they look good, and it is not that expensive. I came across a lot of lads using ordinary peat as well. My whole setup cost around 900 yoyo, so for the sake of 100 extra on substrate i though, feck it ill take the chance on the expensive stuff! You could get some ADA power sand for under a cheaper substrate and get the best of both worlds.

See what the others on here think as well. Good luck, keep us posted.

just an observation but if it took 100e for a 180L then it'll probablt cost you roughly 200e for the ada...

i use manado and have had good growth, growth will be slower though unless you are dosing with ferts and co2, oliver knott also gets good reports and afaik its not overly expensive.

dave

Hi
I just did a planted tank with the Ollie Knotts. Cost me €100 for a Jewel 180.
I changed from gravel and did the change by keeping most of the old water and kept the fish and filter working on a two foot. Th only issue I have had since is a serious amount of algae. This is easing since I stopped using the easy carb and the plants are great. My anubia are even flowering.
I found the ADA too expensive and you still have to add sand or gravel with it.
Just my tuppence worth
pat

My 5 cents about substrate:-)

Last week we had chat with lad from JBL about Manado vs ADA substrates. He made good point and compare products to cars. Its like skoda vs porsche if you have to get from DAP to Bray you will get in bought cars with no problem but with porsche you get quicker and in better standard:-)

ADA its expensive but at same time cost no problems if you stick to some roles. Again its like with car. If you change oil and service car as recommended you will have less trouble etc

I have 3 tanks on ADA at the moment and one on Aquasubstrate II using EI (Estimate Index) and so far only EI cost me some problems and take time to look after plants. With ADA all I have to do is WC and spray fertilizers.


ADA is best on market so cost more than any other substrate.
Look at tropica plants. You get them growing on wool so its possible to grow plants without substrate but whats the point to do that??

www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/fforu...white-setup-tutorial

Look at tutorial. I was able to grow HC on whole bottom in 8 weeks. It would take much longer on any other substrate. I'm not saying its impossible with other substrates but I would have to use some dry powders so knowledge is needed, place to get dry powders, proper dosage and time to do that. With ADA all you have to do is WC and spray ferts.
Some of you saw setup and saw progress.
Now after 10 week HC need to be trimmed and Hygrophila polysperma was trimmed today up to 3 cm. Looks funny now but in week time will back to normal and thats what you need.

With slow growing tank will take you few months to grow carpet plant so you cant enjoy tank. If plants need to be trimmed again if its like in my case major trimming up to 3cm you will have this ugly looking plant for few months before will back to normal. With ADA its only few days/weeks.

About spending big money:-) fish keeping, planted tanks like any other hobby (diving,painball,RC models,etc) is expensive. As in any other hobby you will find some cheap and expensive brands. Some of them will be best on market some don't. Its up to you what way you go.

Look at Kev (Stretnik)
www.irishfishkeepers.com/index.php/fforu...anten-rockfrodo-rock

Some time ago he got nice piece of rock. Cost him small fortune. Some of you would not spend money buying rocks. You may even say he is crazy - maybe he is but he has nice piece of rock and you don't:-)

stretnik wrote:

Cheers, the thing about stuff like this is that it doesn't rot or decay, it can be kept for as long as you are in Fishkeeping.

Kev.

Cheers

i have be using john innis no 3 with a layer of sand above it and the plants r growing like mad,cheap and great results.

all the lads have gave u good advice here already but i myself have being usen Oliver Knott in my last two tanks and the one i have now is a 5 foot 500L tanks and i have it full with O.K and the growth is great carpets plants are pearling as well as all other plants havent used the ADA but with the money i spent on the O.K it couldnt be much more for the ADA but if u asked me i would say Oliver Knott all the way but all the best in wat ever u pick

Sean

lots of excellent comments and pointers here.
The car analogy is great. some like Porsche some Ferrari but then again some do like Skoda. at the end of the day like a car you only get good results based on the work you put in. Keep doing the essentials and you will end up with the same destination. The difference being having the money left after purchasing the car to fuel it. I spent money on Ollie Knotts and used existing plants to populate it. I wouldnt have been able to afford to buy the O.K. and plants. I guess what I am saying is one size dont fit all.