The Best Substrates for Aquascaping & Planted Aquariums

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[shawnartis]

Great video. Helped me make a final decision on my substrate. Thank you. Honestly though the music is distracting while you're talking.

[angelicamorales]

Glad to see you’re back! I started w my betta tank a year ago and was watching your videos and realized you weren’t as active! Hope to see more videos here on out ✨

[kdr]

Nice look 40 breeder. Dirted tanks for life here. It's as natural as can be and works well with my blackwater. Always use sand for cap and tons of leaf litter and botanicals. But i have used stratum it worked well for me too. I have capped with sand with good results. 👍 Happy New Year

[AquaGardenZen]

Great video 👍 my go to is a 3-4inch layer of eco complete mixed with Fluval stratum and powder nutrients on the bottom

[ThePlantedTankTV]

What's your favorite substrate??? Don’t forget to hit that like button!!!

[McAwesome]

I've had very good success with using calcined clay (safe-t-sorb) with a thin layer of leonardite at the bottom. Most, if not all, aquasoils contain leonardite as the primary buffering agent. The combination of the high CEC calcined clay with the slow release humic substances from leonardite create ideal conditions for plants to grow. I also like to use a low-flow undergravel filter, with the substrate raised above the bottom of the tank to allow for oxygen exchange. Low flow being a couple of gallons/day moving through the substrate. Not only does this keep the undergravel filter from clogging, but it creates low oxygen anoxic conditions that support nitrate and phosphate consuming bacteria. Plant roots are also kept in pristine condition as they do not have to contend with anaerobic pockets in the substrate.

The anoxic bacteria cultured in the substrate are capable of truly amazing things. Not only do they complete the nitrogen cycle by converting nitrates into nitrogen gas, but they will produce hydroxyl ions that will break down a huge variety of insults that enter the tank. Be it organic matter from decaying plants/animals, heavy metals, or even pharmaceuticals, they can all be broken down and metabolized by the anoxic bacteria. Algae's have a much harder time getting established due to the low nutrient water column, along with the high REDOX value from all the hydroxyl ions putting stress on unicellular organisms like algae.

[matthewbishop]

I find a 'mixture' or layering different subtrates always works best and lasts the longest.

[daves]

I've had various tanks set up with various aquasoils and theyve lasted years. I'm talking 8+ years. Sometimes ill top up some extra soil but mostly it just sits there doind its thing. Plants grow well and propergate even without co2. Probably the best one ive had is ada soil/substrate system.

[AquaLady]

Had to set up a new dirted tank because my trimmings are just outrageous.

[Evil_Genius_]

Eco Complete by itself is inert unlike a true aquasoil. I have a difficult time getting plants to hold initially in Eco Complete. This isn’t the case when using Fluval Statum. It’s way easier to plant in. Stratum isn’t as loaded as say Amazonia, but it’s the only aquasoil I can purchase locally.

NilocG Thrive and Aquarium CoOp Easy Green are my go to all-on-one fertilizers. I still add additional potassium for large Java ferns.

I only use the Seachem Root Tabs and mostly when putting in young plants. Or trying to spread that carpeting plant.

[davidhaag]

Great video and advice, handsome man!

[chevyfish]

Good stuff. I use many substrates and also employ bare tanks, depending on the stock. Eco complete is for my main planted tanks. I use aquasoil/fluval stratem in clay pots or dishes so my plants can easily be moved about. <•))))~{

[VanNguyen-nsck]

As a beginner I like the idea of an inert substrate that will not affect the water parameters and can last a lifetime (thoroughly cleaned if restarting a tank), so Eco-Complete sounds really nice and being fairly black it goes well with most aquascapes. But I've read it's difficult to keep plants rooted with Eco-Complete and the substrate is a bit sharp for bottom dwellers or longfin fish like Betta resting on the substrate, is this true?

My second option would be to go with 2-4mm New Zealand Midnight Gravel, because it's also inert like Eco-Compete but it's heavier (so easier to root plants in) and smooth (so it does not hurt bottom dwelling fish). I think CaribSea's Peace River also works too being 1-2mm gravel size, but I don't really like the reddish brown coloured substrates, I'd rather stick to very dark grey like Eco-Complete or semi-light grey like New Zealand Midnight Gravel.

[rinasakurai]

What about just basic top soil from like home depot? I remember an older video of yours where you recommended just top soil capped off with sand.

Do you think top soil with a few root tabs topped off with play sand for a nano shrimp tank (4 gallons) would work?

I'm thinking of planting mostly dwarf hairgrass, S. Repens, and Anacharis.

[stoneysscapes]

Hey Jake, A great video !! The 1st substrate I started with was Eco & your knowledge of how to get the best results from it really is the truth and thankfully you reminded me as I have a tendency to forget more than I'd like to admit 🗿 Had the same issues with Eco not always receiving the plants but once I mixed in some Seachem Flourite Black sand it was instantly the feel I expected ~but as a beginner in this hobby some times plants can be more difficult no matter how many times you try and that's funny how you say uprooted plants in a dirted tank has really been a factor in your past , same with Cory & Bentley too . 🦧I have never created a shit storm in my 2 years of growing in soil.🤔 The only reason I can guess that you are going to fast etc. ? Nonetheless you have some Incredible results and the Playlist to agree if I were you it's aqua soil fortified w Niloc G ☘️🌱🍃🍁

[gauravmohanvartak]

Hello, I got one issue, need advice. I got a small tank with goldfish in it. That's one thing, now I bought a new home theater system. Where its sub woofer is placed right beside my tank that's not out of option....wanted to know will that affect my fish health in any way??? Like even when we tap a glass fish move like they are scared, here we are talking about subwoofer sound, so wanted to know.

[pelhamsaquatics]

hello im what youd call an old dog in the aquarium hobby, but fairly new to live plants🙂 this, video is very helpful as i was about to build a walstad method tank on my channel. like#248 and new sub here👍

[grreenbeans]

Dumb question but by dosing the water column with fertilizer, doesn’t it go into the substrate too?

[julivdberg]

Have I made a mistake with a small 5g tank and amazonia soil as only substrate for my anubias plants?

[dirtywhitellama]

It would be more helpful if you mentioned a specific brand or two of aqua soil. It's a category, not a specific product, and not all entries in the category are the same.