Fluval Stratum as an actual Substrate?

Hey, guys so I am setting up a planted 75-gallon aquarium and am wanting to use a substrate for the base layer and then topping it with black sand.

I was thinking of using Fluval Stratum as the substrate and then capping that with Black Imagitarium sand (love this black sand). But everyone I see who uses Fluval Stratum seems to use it as is and not as a base layer and they don't cap it. Is there a better alternative? I was thinking of using ControSoil but for the price per pound, I think Fluval Stratum was more cost-effective and it looks very similar.

Let me know what you think on using a certain substrate and then capping it with sand?
Is the substrate even needed?
Will the sand be efficient enough for nutrients if I add root tabs?
Does the Fluval Stratum actually balance pH and etc?

 

Hey, guys so I am setting up a planted 75-gallon aquarium and am wanting to use a substrate for the base layer and then topping it with black sand.

I was thinking of using Fluval Stratum as the substrate and then capping that with Black Imagitarium sand (love this black sand). But everyone I see who uses Fluval Stratum seems to use it as is and not as a base layer and they don't cap it. Is there a better alternative? I was thinking of using ControSoil but for the price per pound, I think Fluval Stratum was more cost-effective and it looks very similar.

Let me know what you think on using a certain substrate and then capping it with sand?
Is the substrate even needed?
Will the sand be efficient enough for nutrients if I add root tabs?
Does the Fluval Stratum actually balance pH and etc?

Fluval Stratum is an active substrate so people use it for this effect. It adjusts the water's pH and KH values. If you cap it then there's not much point to using it.

 

Fluval Stratum is an active substrate so people use it for this effect. It adjusts the water's pH and KH values. If you cap it then there's not much point to using it.

oooh I see, thanks! Have you used actual substrates that gets capped?

 

oooh I see, thanks! Have you used actual substrates that gets capped?

Do you mean active substrates? They will still have an effect on the water but it will be minimalized

 

Do you mean active substrates? They will still have an effect on the water but it will be minimalized

Uhm possibly? I guess I am referring to the layer of substrate in a tank that holds the majority of the nutrients. Would that be considered active substrate?

 

Uhm possibly? I guess I am referring to the layer of substrate in a tank that holds the majority of the nutrients. Would that be considered active substrate?

Oh if you mean normal substrate, most sand and quartz substrates are inert and not active substrates.

As for nutrients, some substrates come with fertilizers and people use them as the base layer. Or they use potting soil as the base layer. An inert sand cap is added to prevent nutrient leeching into the water column.

I use plain sand only, nutrient will slowly work its way into it through poop and decomposition. I tried peat moss as a base layer as well as potting soil. No difference from what I see. Potting soil actually had the worst result as the tannins leeched out and blocked out the light.

 

Oh if you mean normal substrate, most sand and quartz substrates are inert and not active substrates.

As for nutrients, some substrates come with fertilizers and people use them as the base layer. Or they use potting soil as the base layer. An inert sand cap is added to prevent nutrient leeching into the water column.

I use plain sand only, nutrient will slowly work its way into it through poop and decomposition. I tried peat moss as a base layer as well as potting soil. No difference from what I see. Potting soil actually had the worst result as the tannins leeched out and blocked out the light.

Oh okay! Thank you! I may just stick to the sand then. I plan on slightly dosing the water column and definitely using root tabs since most of the plants I am planting are Amazon Sword species and Crypt Species too.

Lol that saves me over $50 on the substrate.

Do you also find it better to heavily stock your aquarium with plants at the start of a tank and they do better than opposed to getting them incrementally?
I've heard this from a lot of plant keepers but not really sure if there's some truth to it on why you would heavily stock the plants at the start, possibly to outcompete algae before it gets a chance???

 

Oh okay! Thank you! I may just stick to the sand then. I plan on slightly dosing the water column and definitely using root tabs since most of the plants I am planting are Amazon Sword species and Crypt Species too.

Lol that saves me over $50 on the substrate.

Do you also find it better to heavily stock your aquarium with plants at the start of a tank and they do better than opposed to getting them incrementally?
I've heard this from a lot of plant keepers but not really sure if there's some truth to it on why you would heavily stock the plants at the start, possibly to outcompete algae before it gets a chance???

Well for my tank, I populated the entire tank from a single stem of a fast growing weed (hygrophila corymbosa). Before that I did the same thing from a single stem of rotala rotundifolia. I also didn't use high light, I started with a very weak fluorescent light so never dealt with algae issues

I'd say if you have strong light then it's better to plant heavily. Amazon swords and crypts are not the fastest growing, so having more in the beginning will help. The swords might also need acidic water to do well.

 

Well for my tank, I populated the entire tank from a single stem of a fast growing weed (hygrophila corymbosa). Before that I did the same thing from a single stem of rotala rotundifolia. I also didn't use high light, I started with a very weak fluorescent light so never dealt with algae issues

I'd say if you have strong light then it's better to plant heavily. Amazon swords and crypts are not the fastest growing, so having more in the beginning will help. The swords might also need acidic water to do well.

I may need to plant heavily then, no matter how little light I give the tan kin my office, which is where I'm putting the 75 now, it gets a good bit of light from my office window. It's practically in front of a window that gets indirect light all day. I think planting heavily might be a better option now that I think of it.
Might try Dustin's Fish Tanks plant combo pack? Or does anyone else have any other suggestions from aquatic plant sellers?

 

I used the fluval stratum in this tank below gravel. The plants have been doing very well, and I have not added any CO2 or fertilizer tabs/liquid. The lighting is the cheap led the tank came with, So I feel I have to attribute another of the growth to the fluval stratum.

 

I used the fluval stratum in this tank below gravel. The plants have been doing very well, and I have not added any CO2 or fertilizer tabs/liquid. The lighting is the cheap led the tank came with, So I feel I have to attribute another of the growth to the fluval stratum.

Nice! How long ago did you set it up?

 

One of my tanks has fluval stratum capped with smooth gravel. Works just fine. Tank has been running for 2 years with no problems. Plants grow well, fish are doing fine.

 

One of my tanks has fluval stratum capped with smooth gravel. Works just fine. Tank has been running for 2 years with no problems. Plants grow well, fish are doing fine.

Nice! I may or may not get a bag or two just for the minerals and nutrients for the plants. I'm not too worried about it balancing pH.

 

Nice! How long ago did you set it up?

I set it up around December. I pulled a plant out to steal for my new tank build, and it had roots hat were easily 2 inches long. The plant had more then doubled in size with nice thick leaves.





I actually wanted more of the fluval stratum for my new Build, but I could not find it, so I tried using regular dirt. The jury is still out on regular dirt, the water is turning yellow to dark orange way more then I would like.

 

I set it up around December. I pulled a plant out to steal for my new tank build, and it had roots hat were easily 2 inches long. The plant had more then doubled in size with nice thick leaves.

View attachment 838530


I actually wanted more of the fluval stratum for my new Build, but I could not find it, so I tried using regular dirt. The jury is still out on regular dirt, the water is turning yellow to dark orange way more then I would like.

Oh very nice, is that a repens you planted?

And yea I've thought of doing a Walstad before but I don't know if I trust dirt that much in my aquariums lol

 

Oh very nice, is that a repens you planted?

And yea I've thought of doing a Walstad before but I don't know if I trust dirt that much in my aquariums lol

After doing it I wish I had just ordered a ton of fluval stratum online. The expense would have been a lot more, but it would have been so much easier. I am still struggling with the water color, and the amount of work was insane, sifting the dirt 3 times to remove wood peices and multiple 100% water changes. That little 15 was a breeze to setup with the fluval stratum.

I am almost done with tonight's 50% water change and this is the color of my water. And I am running a carbon reactor...

 

After doing it I wish I had just ordered a ton of fluval stratum online. The expense would have been a lot more, but it would have been so much easier. I am still struggling with the water color, and the amount of work was insane, sifting the dirt 3 times to remove wood peices and multiple 100% water changes. That little 15 was a breeze to setup with the fluval stratum.

I am almost done with tonight's 50% water change and this is the color of my water. And I am running a carbon reactor...
View attachment 838534

Bro, I just got a Python water changer and I think this has been the FASTEST water change I have ever done! I did 3 aquariums in less than 30-45 minutes! I highly suggest you invest in one. It sounds cliche but it literally will save your back and time.

I have a 40 gallon-breeder, a 29-gallon, and a 20-gallon.

But yea, that dirted tank might tank you another month for it to actually stay clear. :\
It doesn't actually look too bad right now though on that picture. I had an aquarium with sand and EcoComplete and some driftwood one time and it looked about that color from the driftwood.

Do you have fish in the dirted tank right now or no?