180 gallon substrate

[91five0]

Going to be setting up my 180 gallon medium light planted with no co2. Wonder what the best substrate is going to be or substrates. Was going to do eco complete but have concerns about peppering. Ponder how to layer or best substrate.

[Wes]

If your worried about peppering. Don't put any pigeon blood based discus in the tank. You still have many choices such as blue diamonds, turqs, Red Scribbelts, Alenquers, and leopards etc.......................http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?71055-Strain-List-for-Beginners-(pictures)

[rickztahone]

A sand substrate would be relatively cheap, especially compared to other substrates. Plants get more easily uprooted in sand, but it also gives a good natural look. You can get a #50 bag of Pool Filter Sand at a Home improvement store for less than $10, but you have to pre-order it from their help desk.

[91five0]

Menards has pool filter sand here. It's what I have used in all my African tanks, but haven't tried plants in it. Would a layer of eco complete or fluorite under the sand help? maybe oyster shells or crushed coral under for the nutrients? What about using Ada aquasoil?.

[rickztahone]

My understanding has always been that if you place ANYTHING under the sand, it will eventually find its way up to the top. This means after a while you may have a whole bunch of dark spots where the bottom substrate is coming through.

[91five0]

What would be the best choice for ada aqua soil? The amazonia?

[Jnotjane]

I don't recommend putting anything under the sand. I used to have a planted tank and had a sand "river" running through the tank. The darker substrate always found its way into the sand from turbulence during water changes, fish nosing around looking for food, gravel cleaning, etc. Once the dark substrate mixes with the sand, it never separates again and the sand area just looks dirty. I eventually scooped out all the sand and replaced it with more Aqua Soil and planted it over.

[Jnotjane]

I always used Amazonia. Just be careful for ammonia spikes if you ever stir the substrate up with a gravel vacuum.

[rickztahone]

What would be the best choice for ada aqua soil? The amazonia?

That is what I used in my 55g. Great substrate for plants, but a bit pricey.

[91five0]

Price is no issue. It's just looks kind of dark

[Rico04]

I use pool filter sand in my planted tank. Looks great, it's cheap and low tech Plants are doing well. I just fert.

[Piraya]

Check on tropica substrate, you should't have spikes off amónia, the substrate is cooked. Check my post have some pics of the substrate.

[rickztahone]

Price is no issue. It's just looks kind of dark

That is because it IS a darker substrate. As long as you do not have PB based fish, you should be fine.

[91five0]

Alright will have to start planning which discus we are getting