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r_e_g
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My new 40g breeder will be my first tank with stem plants so I've been reading a LOT about substrates and my head is spinning; I'm starting to stress over making the "right" choice. ADA Aquasoil seems to be revered about all others but I'm trying to decide if it's the best for ME. I'm planning to grow fairly easy plants such as Vallisneria, Cabomba, watersprite, and water wisteria as well as possibly some moss and Anubias on driftwood. pH out of the tap is ~8 and KH and GH are both 8. I'm not going to start with a CO2 system but it might be an option down the road. How much is the substrate actually going to matter with the plants I'm considering? I have no immediate desire to grow carpeting plants or to make everything grow as quickly as possible but I do want a lush tank.
The alternatives I've been researching include Fluval Stratum, Ecocomplete (which I have in my shrimp tank and don't find especially attractive, plus it gets bad reviews), Turface, Flourite, Controsoil, Brightwell Aquatics, sand, etc. and I have no idea what to choose. I know that I'll need to use fertilizers if I don't get a nutrient rich substrate but I'll have to do that eventually with any substrate I choose. I'm kind of worried about substrates that will reduce KH and lower my pH because the pH of my tap water is so much higher. I have no intention of using RO/DI with this tank. I like the idea of using a high CEC substrate and fertilizing it or even just sand and fertilizers. I've been reading about the risk of anoxic zones in a sandbed though so now I'm afraid to do that even though sand is probably my first choice after all (though I hear Malaysian trumpet snails could help). I want to be able to replant, plant cuttings and have bottom dwellers without getting huge clouds of fine particles. I have no issues with needing to dose fertilizers as long as I'm not spending a tremendous amount on them.
Many thanks for any help!! Choosing substrate is my last major decision before I actually buy plants and set this tank up so I am eager to just pick something already.
The alternatives I've been researching include Fluval Stratum, Ecocomplete (which I have in my shrimp tank and don't find especially attractive, plus it gets bad reviews), Turface, Flourite, Controsoil, Brightwell Aquatics, sand, etc. and I have no idea what to choose. I know that I'll need to use fertilizers if I don't get a nutrient rich substrate but I'll have to do that eventually with any substrate I choose. I'm kind of worried about substrates that will reduce KH and lower my pH because the pH of my tap water is so much higher. I have no intention of using RO/DI with this tank. I like the idea of using a high CEC substrate and fertilizing it or even just sand and fertilizers. I've been reading about the risk of anoxic zones in a sandbed though so now I'm afraid to do that even though sand is probably my first choice after all (though I hear Malaysian trumpet snails could help). I want to be able to replant, plant cuttings and have bottom dwellers without getting huge clouds of fine particles. I have no issues with needing to dose fertilizers as long as I'm not spending a tremendous amount on them.
Many thanks for any help!! Choosing substrate is my last major decision before I actually buy plants and set this tank up so I am eager to just pick something already.