I am going to set up a 29 gallon tank, but I want to raise Endlers in it too. So I want to use an underground filter and a back filter. I have my gravel but since I want to raise some nice lower light plants, what substrates do I need to put down. This is a first for me. I always , in the past just put gravel and prayed something would live. Now I really want a nice looking planted Endler tank. Could ya'll give me some suggestions, and as reasonable as possible. Thanks, in advance, this site is the Greatest for helping out.. I am so lucky to be a part of it, and hopefully I can help someone out too someday. Any one want some nice Mystery snails, or is that a no no??? these are purple. And soon I will have lots of very nice Endlers.
Ok, You pros, I would like some Help
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I would ditch the idea of the under gravel filter for a planted tank. IMHO you would be much better served with a small cannister filter. If not that then just a good HOB filter.
My personal preference would be for Eco-Complete. It's black and grows great plants. But if money is tight check and see if you can get some black beauty blasting sand. It's also black and inexpensive. You could then put down a thin layer of peat moss and some laterite and have a decent substrate.
My personal preference would be for Eco-Complete. It's black and grows great plants. But if money is tight check and see if you can get some black beauty blasting sand. It's also black and inexpensive. You could then put down a thin layer of peat moss and some laterite and have a decent substrate.
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use one handful of ground peat per 200 square inches of tank bottom. I posted a link and gallery a while back when Iwanted to try my hand at making my own substrate. Here is the link to the thread
Here The link to my photo gallery about it is about 5 posts into the thread. If money is tight you could skip the expensive Eco-complete and use about 3" of shultz for the top layer. Just use a layer of peat, maybe some laterite and then ~3" of shultz, even plain inert gravel will work as the cap but the shultz is pretty cheap and better for the plants. Also, if you can find it there is a produck called Turface that is similar but it comes in grey/black color.
Hope that helps
Here The link to my photo gallery about it is about 5 posts into the thread. If money is tight you could skip the expensive Eco-complete and use about 3" of shultz for the top layer. Just use a layer of peat, maybe some laterite and then ~3" of shultz, even plain inert gravel will work as the cap but the shultz is pretty cheap and better for the plants. Also, if you can find it there is a produck called Turface that is similar but it comes in grey/black color.Hope that helps
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For those who favor UGFs, if you can get to the bottom of your tank place some plated steel washers under the UGF and use a strong magnet to move them around to dislodge any molm that accumulates in the corners.
You can have a UGF without the anarobic problems.
You can have a UGF without the anarobic problems.
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