What is the best substrate for live plants?

What is the best substrate for live plants?

 

It depends on the kinds of plants you want. If you have rooting plants that need a good and firm substrate, the ultimate best substrate would be soil (safe for aquaria). Soil is best for growing healthy plants, combined with good lighting, and if you wish - with CO2 injections (but I personally wouldn't use CO2 injections because of the inherent danger it carries for fish).

 

Although I've heard that soil is not recommended for beginners due to several problems.
If this is just your average planted aquarium with cheap, low-light plants and no CO2 or anything, I wouldn't bother with anything other than regular aquarium gravel.

 

Yes, if you have low light plants, some appropriate gravel will suffice for rooting plants. And yes, soil is probably better for people who are already experienced with planted tanks. However, there's gotta be a first time. I think even beginners could be successful IF they did appropriate RESEARCH before setting up such a tank. Those who are serious about it, will resreach first. There are a lot of books and a lot of information out there on how to keep a successful planted tank with soil. Soil is the best natural rooting plant medium, especially for more demanding medium to high light plants.

 

Though unfortunately most of us can't have the more demanding plants because we either don't have access to or don't have the money for high lighting.

 

save up that's what I'm doing

 

ive heard of the eco complete and ive ordered some...

I saw where this dude made a garden with eco complete black and sand to make an awesome ground (I wish I still had link)....

eco complete a good substrate for a planted tank with fish?

the Pakistan / YoYo loach looks awesome and it syas it needs sand... is it ok with the eco complete? I'm also getting lots of shrimp btw cool lil buggers
-luper