Help which substrate to use

I was needing some help on some substrate for real plants. I have only kept java fern and java moss and I believe if I remember correctly a amazon sword plant with gravel just using liquid fertilizer and root tabs and they didn't do well, but I think it was because I killed them with medication. Anyway lesson learned.
I'm planning on making a 10 gallon half moon tank with beginner plants with no co2. Plant samples that I might get are some more java fern,java moss,dwarf hairgrass,amazon sword plant maybe some anubias nana not sure yet but along those lines.

Something that will not break the bank, I'm looking at Flourite black sand because I might be mixing it with filter pool sand.

Any one have experience with the Flourite Black Sand? Does it give the plants what they need? How long does it last before I will have to use liquid fertilizer and root tabs? Or is it no better then the filter pool sand? Do you have to put soil under it?

Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks so much in advance

 

I use Fluval stratum it's good and not too expensive.

 

I use Fluval stratum it's good and not too expensive.

Do you rinse it before adding to the tank?

 

So I suggest not doing Amazon swords since in about 2 years the plant will take up 1/3-1/2 of the tank. Dwarf hairgrass need co2 I believe since in the wild they are actually not fully submerge thus they have a unlimited supply of co2 but once fully submerge they don't have a lot of co2, you also need medium to high lights for them. Some plants you should consider are anubia nana, anubia, petite, hornwort, elodea, java moss, java fern, staurogyne repens, and sagittaria.

 

So I suggest not doing Amazon swords since in about 2 years the plant will take up 1/3-1/2 of the tank. Dwarf hairgrass need co2 I believe since in the wild they are actually not fully submerge thus they have a unlimited supply of co2 but once fully submerge they don't have a lot of co2, you also need medium to high lights for them. Some plants you should consider are anubia nana, anubia, petite, hornwort, elodea, java moss, java fern, staurogyne repens, and sagittaria.

OH thank you so much, I need all the help I can get when it comes to live plants. I'm excited.....
Do you have any suggestions on what substrate would be good?

 

Oh right ther are different substrates you can use the most popular is pool filter sand however for some plants you might want to use root tabs. However if you don't want to worry about root tabs then you can get a bag of Eco-Complete or Fluorite. I have eco-complete and pool filter sand in my 40 breeder. If you like to see a pic just say so! Eco-complete is about $20 for 20lbs which will be good for a 10 gallon. You might use only 2/3 of the bag. You want to have 2" of substrate!

What light are you using? I have a Finnex Stingray

 

Oh right ther are different substrates you can use the most popular is pool filter sand however for some plants you might want to use root tabs. However if you don't want to worry about root tabs then you can get a bag of Eco-Complete or Fluorite. I have eco-complete and pool filter sand in my 40 breeder. If you like to see a pic just say so! Eco-complete is about $20 for 20lbs which will be good for a 10 gallon. You might use only 2/3 of the bag. You want to have 2" of substrate!

What light are you using? I have a Finnex Stingray

OH I would love to see a picture, Not sure what light comes with the tank but I might have to change it.

 

Do you rinse it before adding to the tank?

No do not rinse it before putting it in. Even tough the bags says to rinse do not rinse it.
after you are finished putting in your substrate when it's time to fill water you can use a big Pyrex measuring cup if you have one or something that is heavy and a little tall. Do not have a fast water stream, have the water just slowly stream over the sides, this is one of those things you need to take your time with. The reason I said to use a heavy type cup is that once the water reaches a certain point if the cup is too light it will start to float and it just makes it a hum bug. Once the water passes over the cup lessen the flow a little to make sure that the hose dose not get loose and starts to hit your substrate. Once it's done you can stop the hose and then take out your cup. Your water will be a little dirty but in a day it should clear up.

Good Luck!

 

No do not rinse it before putting it in. Even tough the bags says to rinse do not rinse it.
after you are finished putting in your substrate when it's time to fill water you can use a big Pyrex measuring cup if you have one or something that is heavy and a little tall. Do not have a fast water stream, have the water just slowly stream over the sides, this is one of those things you need to take your time with. The reason I said to use a heavy type cup is that once the water reaches a certain point if the cup is too light it will start to float and it just makes it a hum bug. Once the water passes over the cup lessen the flow a little to make sure that the hose dose not get loose and starts to hit your substrate. Once it's done you can stop the hose and then take out your cup. Your water will be a little dirty but in a day it should clear up.

Good Luck!

Thank you for all the advice if I decided on that substrate I will do what you said.

Thanks for the luck hopefully I will not need it.....;D

 

This is what my tank looked like with the stratum. I am still using stratum but I am in a very slow process of redoing my planted tank. I had some Cuba growing pretty good but my Cory's kept on uprooting them.

I don't know why some of my pictures keep turning sidewards. If anyone has a solution please let me know. Thank You!

 

Oh right ther are different substrates you can use the most popular is pool filter sand however for some plants you might want to use root tabs. However if you don't want to worry about root tabs then you can get a bag of Eco-Complete or Fluorite. I have eco-complete and pool filter sand in my 40 breeder. If you like to see a pic just say so! Eco-complete is about $20 for 20lbs which will be good for a 10 gallon. You might use only 2/3 of the bag. You want to have 2" of substrate!

What light are you using? I have a Finnex Stingray

I'd love to see a picture as well!

 

Sorry for the late post since I have school and then had to go somewhere and then I still had about 40ish threads I'm going through! But here they are:

 

This is what my tank looked like with the stratum. I am still using stratum but I am in a very slow process of redoing my planted tank. I had some Cuba growing pretty good but my Cory's kept on uprooting them.

I don't know why some of my pictures keep turning sidewards. If anyone has a solution please let me know. Thank You!

View attachment 205933
View attachment 205935

OH your tank is beautiful.....I have finally got my new tank almost ready for the substrate, I ordered the flourite black. Still waiting on it then trying to decide on what live plants to get. Have been so busy, there is so much to learn so little time.

 

Very nice....

 

Sorry for the late post since I have school and then had to go somewhere and then I still had about 40ish threads I'm going through! But here they are:

That is a nice tank also I love pictures I will put one some of mine when I get it together if I ever do. The stand I order was damaged so I will have to see what they will do about it. So another delay...