How much substrate to grow plants?

???  I want my tanks to be heavily planted.  I need to know how much substrate I need to have in the bottom of my tank to be successful in planting it.  How many inches?  I have 3 ten gallon tanks and 1 five gallon, with a betta in each tank.  Thanks.

CherryRose

 

I think a couple of inches deep would be good. What kind of substrate will you be using?

 

I am using the regular aquarium gravel.

CherryRose

 

I've read that for planted tanks a 2.5 - 3" substrate is good. I'll personally have something between 2.5 and 3" of gravel in my planted tank as well. This is if you'll have plants that root in the substrate. If you won't have such plants, you don't need a deep substrate at all. Anubias and Java Ferns, for example, do not root in substrate. They're planted on decor.

 

I am using the regular aquarium gravel.

CherryRose

You may want to consider a stubstrate like eco complete for a heavily planted tank. It's more suited for plants, and they will probably grow better in it than in plain gravel. Have you read this article before? It also provides some great helpful tips:

 

You can use regular pea gravel but smaller 1-3cm. is good but it would be best to use what gunnie said. Or you can try the EI natural method, it's fairly low maintence.

 

Thanks, Gunny and ATM. Do they carry that gravel at PetSmart or Petco? I haven't read that article yet but will do so now. 8)

CherryRose

 

Not sure, you can order it online though, one you don't have to wash much and the other you do, can't remember. They come in different colors too.

 

You will have a tough time finding it online at a reasonable price because shipping will be expensive. Sometimes you can get a special deal on the shipping though. If they don't have it, ask them at PetSmart and/or Petco if they will special order it for you. Also see if you have a local pet store that's not a chain. They might be more willing to place a special order.

You don't rinse Eco Complete. It's supposed to have bacteria in it to help accelerate your cycle, and also contains other nutrients beneficial to your plants

 

That's cool. Thanks Gunnie. My LFS just sold out to a new owner. It won't open until the end of the month because of remodeling, but the answering machine the new owners have says to let them know if there is anything we need and they will do their best to help. I will leave a message on the machine for them and see what happens. The old owners didn't have any live plants but maybe the new owners will. That would be awesome.

CherryRose

 

You will have a tough time finding it online at a reasonable price because shipping will be expensive.  Sometimes you can get a special deal on the shipping though.  If they don't have it, ask them at PetSmart and/or Petco if they will special order it for you.  Also see if you have a local pet store that's not a chain.  They might be more willing to place a special order.

You don't rinse Eco Complete.  It's supposed to have bacteria in it to help accelerate your cycle, and also contains other nutrients beneficial to your plants   

Yup new there was one you don't rinse, fluorite you do right?