What is the BEST SUBSTRATE for your PLANTED AQUARIUM?

Рет қаралды 4,425

5 ай бұрын

Unfortunately it is not such an easy answer. It depends on your unique situation and budget. I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the three main styles of aquarium substrate.
#aquariumhobby #fishkeeping #plantedtank

Пікірлер: 42

@coolgeorgiaboy 5 ай бұрын

Great video. I like how you talk about the advantages\disadvantages. Thanks for sharing

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@TheClass56xxfan 25 күн бұрын

These videos are brilliant. Thank you so much. I really enjoy the south african context

@bclmqd 5 ай бұрын

A solid, objective evaluation that makes perfect sense! And NOT delivered in gung-ho, over-enthusiastic (ie: fake) style, thank heavens! Yesssssss!

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. Glad you found it useful.

@aleksandralatusek9259 5 ай бұрын

I feel like you made this video just for me. This is something I’ve really been struggling to figure out for when I put together my new big setup. There are so many products out there, some cost a small fortune, and there are relatively few resources that really explain nicely what to use where depending on what your goals are. So thank you Droeks.

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

You're welcome. Glad it was useful.

@Glenn_AE6YT 5 ай бұрын

Thank you! I needed this video. It has helped me decide on what substrate to use on my future 75g tank. I want to set it up ONCE and not experiment like I have my present tanks. I presently have a 5.5g with app. 3 to 4 cm of sand. I'm now wanting to start over and put potting soil in first, and then replace the sand. I always look forward to your videos.

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Unless you want a different kind of sand, I'll use the same sand. It will contain some beneficial bacteria.

@seannunes2041 5 ай бұрын

Good video. One thing about aqua soils is that there are active aqua soils that can change your Ph or has high ammonia release at start up like ADA Amazonia original version. This means if you are not cognizant of this, you can have major algae blooms at start-up. You can cap the active aqua soil with sand to get an easier start.

@ninifish7528 2 ай бұрын

I had this problem. I was young and did so much research. But the aquasoil gave too much nutriment and I was loaded with algae. Extremely frustrating, all plants died.

@yourikroeze8549 5 ай бұрын

Thans for your videos Droeks and greetings from the Netherlands! For the dirt I use mesh bags to keep it seperate. Sometime the roots are a little bit rooted into the bags but it helps a lot to keep it separate from the sand (or in my case gravel).

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Great tip! I have seen that before, don't know why I always forget about it. I think it is because my tanks tend to go for years so I never think of when I have to break them down.

@andrewfield854 2 ай бұрын

Excellent explanation. Thank you 👍

@droeksonfishkeeping 2 ай бұрын

You are welcome!

@gijsberthoogendoorn7988 5 ай бұрын

Dankie. Waardevolle informasie.

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Plesier!

@riellottera 5 ай бұрын

Baie dankie vir die waardevolle inligting.

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Plesier!

@theaquaticdesert 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! beautiful red scarlet dario btw :)

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Thanks. I get mixed up with the common and scientific names.

@gracebromfield9070 5 ай бұрын

Great information! Thank you. I'm so glad I found this channel🙏Please keep it up👍

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

Thanks. I'll keep going..

@donpettit7107 3 ай бұрын

Boulder Cobble Pebble Granule Sand Silt Clay Sand is up to 2mm in size Granules at 2mm to 4mm Pebbles > 4mm Gravel is a mixture of pebble to granule sized material

@FKJ_WORLD 4 ай бұрын

You are doing so well love this share... Big up brotha

@droeksonfishkeeping 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much

@ninifish7528 2 ай бұрын

Is it possible to put a screen net between the dirt and the sand? Might keep the soil separated?

@droeksonfishkeeping 2 ай бұрын

Not necessary. If a little bit of dirt makes it to the top here and there over time it is still fine. As long as you use sand and not gravel and a thick enough layer to cap the dirt/soil you should be fine.

@Nihoris72 3 ай бұрын

Great information for someone just starting out like me. I'm starting a 75gal tank and have been researching the best substrates. What would you think of a base layer of inert gravel and a cap of aquasoil? Or maybe a blend of them?

@droeksonfishkeeping 3 ай бұрын

If you need extra height many people put crushed lava rock underneath the Aquasoil. I wouldn't mix it with gravel, will lessen it's effectiveness.

@GageRatliff 9 күн бұрын

@@droeksonfishkeeping could you put sand underneath the lava rock and aquasoil?

@droeksonfishkeeping 9 күн бұрын

I have never tried that but I would not put sand on the bottom with other layers on top. Would be wary of it compacting and going black. @@GageRatliff

@Davey333 2 ай бұрын

Very good

@brittanysanford4706 2 ай бұрын

What type of soil is best? I can't figure out if i need pond soil or if another brand would be ok?

@droeksonfishkeeping 2 ай бұрын

I use a combination of organic potting soil, compost and peat for the soil part underneath the sand cap. Pond soil should be ok, haven't tried it personally.

@brittanysanford4706 2 ай бұрын

@@droeksonfishkeeping thank you! Looking at the soil is there anything I should avoid? This is my fist planted tank so I want to make sure I don't mess up!

@droeksonfishkeeping 2 ай бұрын

Avoid any chemical fertilizers. Everything must be organic. Watch this video, you can see all the steps here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jbaKaJWQ2bCpnX0.htmlsi=N0tYE7Tq2O3soAjg @@brittanysanford4706

@al44tec 5 ай бұрын

How about that plenum and kitty litter? Seriously the cheapest way to get into the planted aquarium scene

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

I must do an update on that one. I must say, I am seriously struggling. Water quality is great according to everything I can test but still struggling with this fuzzy algae. Probably it is just because there are only Pea Puffers in the tank that only eat high proteien frozen foods. Had the same problem with the Pea Puffer tank without the plenum as well.

@al44tec 5 ай бұрын

@@droeksonfishkeeping what’s your phosphate levels on the puffer tank? That’s always the toughest one to keep down with those little guys for me as well. Pretty much keep them in plenum tanks with bcb canister as well but non planted so light cycle is a bit shorter. Oxygen redox is always above 250 but phosphate levels are the toughest for me. I think I’m going to try to setup co2 and plant heavy. Probably going to try duck weed as well just to reduce light but not sure how that will affect oxygen exchange. I’ll let you know how it goes.

@droeksonfishkeeping 5 ай бұрын

I have tested the phosphate levels. Can't remember the figure off the top of my head but almost negligible, the lowest reading on the kit. Tank a bit small to add a cannister, only 5g. Let me know if you can solve the Pea Puffer algae headache. @@al44tec