Reddit reviews CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black
We found 62 Reddit comments about CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Complete substrate for freshwater planted aquariumsContains major and minor trace elements to nourish aquarium plantsSubstrate encourages healthy plant root growth
/r/plantedtank is a great resource. I will share my personal experience with you to help you avoid some of the pitfalls I experienced.
If you have any more questions let me know. Hope this helps.
Equipment: IMO aquaclears are the best HOB filter. Canister filters are a little more expensive and can be a little more difficult than HOBs at first as far as cleaning and setting up. However, they are superior to HOBs in most ways. Eheim and fluval make great canisters, then sunsun have been hit or miss from what I've heard.
I suggest getting two heaters, one on each side of the tank. That way if one fails your fish won't be fried or frozen.
Substrate: pool filter sand is easy and cheap, it can grow plants fine if you use root tabs. You can try the walstad method, which involves putting down a layer of organic potting soil then capping it with sand. It is cheap and very effective for growing plants if done right. The downfall is that it can be messy and its very very hard to rescape. Other options are plant substrates. Eco complete and flourite are two decent substrates for growing plants, moderately priced too. If you have extra money to spend then you can use some type of aquasoil. ADA, Mr. Aqua, ST are all high quality plant substrates, but again pricey.
Lighting: Finnex makes great LEDs for growing plants, a little expensive, but they are very good. For 20" height, the planted+ or original Fugeray should be fine without CO2 and not promote too much algae.
Plants: For plants, you probably won't be able to carpet dwarf baby tears without a strong LED and pressurized CO2. You can do a dwarf hair grass carpet, but it might go slowly without investing in a good light. aquaswap is a great place to buy plants. Butteredscrimp puts out a monthly sale and can help you assemble a plant package. I can vouch for him as being reliable. Just have to give him a price range, some details about your tank such as lighting and size, and some plants you like!
Decorations: Driftwood is a great way to fill space and make your tank feel a little more natural. Spider wood and manzanita are my favorite. Check your LFS to see if they have any pieces you like first. If not, there are several good places you can get driftwood online. Driftwood will release tannins (won't harm fish) into your tank when placed in water and might take a while to sink depending on the piece. I suggest putting it in while your tank is cycling.
You can also go with rocks/stones. They should be scrubbed under hot water before going into the tank. Some rocks can break down and affect your water chemistry. To test if they will you can do the vinegar test. Take the rock and add a few drops of vinegar or a stronger acid. If it fizzles or bubbles then it should not be placed in the tank because it can raise the pH of the water.
Fish: For shrimp amano shrimp are great, they eat hair algae and scavenge leftovers. They won't breed in freshwater though. Red cherry shrimp come in different grades (all very attractive) and are a relatively easy shrimp to keep, they will breed like crazy if provided an adequate environment The babies will be small and can/will be eaten by most fish.
For snails, nerite snails are regarded as some of the best algae eaters, won't reproduce in freshwater, and they are very cool looking. But female snails will leave unattractive, hard to remove, white eggs everywhere. You need a metal blade to scrape them off. u/gastropoid is your go to for snail info.
For a schooling fish you can go big or small. some of my favorite bigger schooling fish include congo tetras and bosemani rainbowfish. There are lots of other good sized rainbowfish if you decide to go that direction. Some popular small schooling fish include harlequin rasboras, neon tetras, cardinal tetras, and rummy nose tetras. Other tetras and rasboras will work too! Some rasboras are tiny though, maxing out at about 1 inch so those are a little less compatible usually. Barbs are another good schooling fish, but they can be nippy and semi-aggressive. Otocinclus are a schooling fish, but they are algae eaters and can be a little sensitive when brought into a new tank.
Fish I would avoid are common plecos, they get massive. And chinese/siamese algae eaters. They are fantastic algae eaters as juveniles, but they become aggressive when they grow up.
final thoughts: if you're going planted, look into EI dosing and root tabs, it will help plants thrive. You said you have experience with freshwater tanks so I assume you know about the nitrogen cycle and fishless cycling. If you don't there is a site under the helpful links tab at the top of the page. Look through the other links there too! great information. Visit plantedtank for more plant info, inspiration, and guides.
Good luck!
You could get some better substrate...
CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_k5mwDbRK9SQVR
Most of what you list can be purchased second hand in Craigslist. For instance, I live in Houston and Craigslist has this available right now. That would drop almost the entire cost to $400.
I have a medium/heavily planted tank depending on who you ask. Here is a picture. This was done without any CO2. I use Eco-Complete as the substrate. I add one package of root tabs every 3 months. I spent a total of $109 for the mega-pack at liveaquaria.com.
If you were to purchase your tank and supplies second-hand, you could have a tank almost identical to mine for $500 or less.
If a fish is inactive, it usually means they don't have enough room to swim around and explore. 5 gallons is beautiful for a betta, you should do a 5 gallon with live plants, it's beautiful to look at! If you're concerned about price as well, here are some good options:
All in all, you're looking at ~$107 for a better tank for your fish, or ~$53 for just the basic set up (minus the live plants/plant supporting substrate). If you want lighting, I've heard that basic desk lamps like this one work great in lieu of expensive LED setups.
OR
You can buy a Fluval Spec V, they're on sale for $59.99 and come with a filter, lighting, lid, etc. All you would need is substrate and a heater.
Let me know if you have any questions!
I guess I'm a little late on this, but I use Eco-Complete in most of my planted tanks and I wouldn't use anything else.
http://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM
Had someone ask for an inventory list and thought I'd post it up here for visibility.
Coralife Biocube 14 - $199
Lighting System - $141
Filtration System - $122
Arline System - $32
Decor - $140
Flora - $114
Fauna - $46
Tools - $12
Thank you all so much for your patience! thoothsk is right, i should have given more information. I hate when people call me for tech support and say "my computer isnt working, can you come fix it" when they just need to load paper into their printer or some other equally as frustrating lack of detail. So here goes:
Pic Of Tank
1.10G Heater so the temp is about 78
So, i think that is all the answers, and again. Thank you for your patience. I should have given more details.
My main question is should i throw these 6 java fern plants out, or are they salvageable in the condition they are in, if i give them time? I believe i will not order from this vendor again.
EDIT: i have no fish in the tank. :) I have a 55G tank that i used to put lots of fake plants in because i love the look of plants, so this 5 gallon is my attempt at starting plants first. Fish when allll is well.
EDIT 2:
If you're doing plants, you could look up on ada aquasoil
or eco-complete
or flourite
You could also mixup them
I use a mix of substrate whatever is onsale. My favorite right now is organic gardening soil capped with sand but takes a lot of time to prep it but its cheap like 50lbs is less then 10 dollars. Here a link to prepping it: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/library/52554-how-mineralized-soil-substrate-aaron-talbot.html
I used ecocomplete which is basically lava gravel. Here a link to it https://amzn.com/B0002DH0QM I got it for 3 dollars when my LFS was remodeling.
I use blasting sand its like 8 dollars for 50lbs. Here a link to it http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/black-diamond-medium-blasting-abrasives
I used fluval stratum. Got it one sale
I used seachem onyx sand. Got it for free during a store raffle.
I used cat litter unscented and natural clay.
I used azoo soil
I never never vacuum, clean, or siphon my substrate in my aquariums just let all the plants and substrate absorb the fish waste as nutrients.
In my opinion you can grow plants with any gravel or substrate just need nutrients. When I using just sand only as a subrate I supply it with plant food. I used Osmocote Plus Outdoor and Indoor Smart-Release Plant Food here is the link:
https://amzn.com/B00GTDGMHC
It was almost 4 dollars at walmart. How you use the garden plant food is just mix it with your substrate or sprinkle it and push it down into the substrate with your finger or chopstick. It sinks inside aquariums. I used the plant food about once every 6 months or when I think its 6 months which could be 4 months. I don't know all my plants are just growing fine.
With that said I recommend ADA Nature Substrate even tho I never used it. Because Amano Takashi, founder of ADA, knows a lot more then me I just never found it onsale or locally otherwise I would had brought it.
What I would do is use the gravel to make slopes and hill interesting landscape then mix or put plant food in it and then cover it with ADA soil.
I never ran into anaerobic zone issues but then again I had trumpet snails to help my substrate breath. Some of my substrate or gravel were 7cm+ tall and plants still grew not sure how far there roots went but they grew.
I have about 6 dirted tanks and one them had issues developing gas in the substrate. I had to poke the substrate every few days to release the gas other wise I think my plants wouldn't had grow. I think that could had been Anaerobic not sure but plants still grew but just slower compare to the other dirted tanks.
Will I hope that helps.
Same boat. I cancelled my order because I had $40 in change so I thought I'd go to a Coin Star and put the money on an Amazon gift card since there is no 10% fee when made into a gift card rather than cash. Now I have $40 for Amazon which would have nearly paid for my order and now it barely covers 1 bag. I guess I'll be waiting some more.
Here's a price tracker for it and you can set up email alerts for when it gets below a certain price.
I use CaribSea Eco-complete. It's black, beautiful, and easy to handle. I bought it from Amazon and used it in two new nano tanks and I will use it exclusively moving forward. You can find a lot of information on it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DH0QM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Good luck to you.
I was planning on buying this stuff
Bad idea? Good idea? Maybe do a little organic miracle grow on the bottom?
There is a lot of differing opinions on what makes a good substrate.
This is what I got: CaribSea Eco-Complete
Why did I get that? Because it was available on Amazon Prime and well rated :-) So far, so good.
I have a 6g fluval edge, I just picked up a bag of this from amazon. $22 shipped, and was more than enough to fill my edge, plus some excess to build up the hills I needed for my aquascape
this is more or less what 20lbs of this looks like in a 6g edge... There are some larger rocks in there as well taking up space, so expect a little less fill. I didn't snap any pictures before i started sticking my plants in there, but you get the idea. 20lbs is a good amount for this tank. The bag ships wet, so the 20lb weight is a little deceptive.
Is this the stuff you meant? Or can amazon not find ADA aquasoil?
Do you know if either of the 2 substrates you mentioned are compatible with shrimp? I'd like to add some when I get the tank set .
I'm pretty sure it was this stuff CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OXVUzb0DMQCC3
I bought it from my local fish store, he was going to stop carrying it, he he sold it to me 50% off
Is this sand okay for kuhli loaches that like to swim around in the sand?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_DB2rybTHGCCD8
Also plan in getting putting shrimp, will it be safe for them?
So the only thing I have against Eco-Complete is how insanely expensive it is. According to the instructions on the bag and the current prices on amazon, we're looking at $85 - $170 just for substrate.
Compare that to the pool filter sand at only $25 - $50
[CaribSea Eco-Complete ]
(https://smile.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=pd_ybh_a_29?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8P5MR2AHR3Q9PMSTQNKS)
I appreciate that!
I have a very fine white gravel with [this substrate ](CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_g7LZCbGFMYMT6) the two werent meant to mix but my husband disturbed them too much and I like the natural look
I had trouble finding the supplies I needed from my local pet stores (especially for cheap), and ended up getting some things off Amazon.
An adjustable heater, for up to 10 gallons: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KKLHJ2Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0sO7CbVTA1R52
Aquarium rocks/substrate for a planted, healthier aquarium:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cyO7Cb9MFNSFN
Cheapest supply of aquarium plants I've found--oh no, my favorite store, Aquatic Discounts, is on a hiatus! Well, here's something similar:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078K5CMH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EAO7Cb52MC3ZF
Rinse before planting, and watch carefully and remove dying leaves/sections in the first few weeks, but they really are a great value for the volume you'll get.
I prefer a proper gravel over a glass bottom as it makes the tank look a lot more natural.
I've also heard sand can be tricky to work with so I'd recommend something simple like Eco-Complete.
Things you'll need:
Filter
Heater
You'll need this for the filter
Substrate
lamp i bought mine at a supercenter for 7.99; this link is to let you know what it looks like
light
I personally use everything on this list; they're cheap and reliable. To maintain the sponge filter all you have to do is rinse it in a bucket filled with tank water, after a water change for example, every 2 weeks.
Go to r/plantedtank for info on plants, but i will give you some quick tips
This is everything i can think of on the fly, but do a lot of research on your own. Having a planted tank isn't as easy as just plopping in some plants and watch as they flourish.
Here is what I plan on getting for the 10 gallon. I also plan on buying a Finnex Planted+ II whenever it comes out.
CO2 Regulator- http://greenleafaquariums.com/products/gla-gro-co2-regulator.html
Fertilizer- http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/pps-pro-fertilizer-package.html
CO2 indicator solution- http://greenleafaquariums.com/products/cal-aqua-double-check-indicator-solution.html
Drop Checker- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J594UVM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1XASUQHYFCLHB&coliid=I3NWGM7JZJRTSD
CO2 Tank- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085282UK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1XASUQHYFCLHB&coliid=I2XE9EO3Z2DAGA&psc=1
Subtrate- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1XASUQHYFCLHB&coliid=I10PPPB3TWL6ZG
Setup
Item| Description
---|---
Tank | 55 Gallon
Filter|[Marineland Penguin 350] (http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Penguin-Power-Filter-70-Gallon/dp/B0009IMDQM/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1406908824&sr=1-1&keywords=bio-wheel+350&dpPl=1)
Filter | Marineland Penguin 150 filled with Biomax
Heater| Aqueon 200w heater
Substrate | Tahitian Moon Sand
Substrate| CaribSea Eco Complete
Lighting|Marineland Single Bright
I wish I went with a better lighting system as it's very weak, I can only grow low light, easy going plants. Currently looking for something better. I also want to upgrade to a [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Cascade%C2%AE-Canister-Filter-Gallon-Aquariums/dp/B0002DJ9NY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406911455&sr=8-1&keywords=pennplax+canister+filter&dpPl=1). canister filter.
I have in there some platties, had 4 red and 4 yellow but some died and some spawned, I don't know how much platties I have. I also have 2 green cory catfish, and 2 zebra danios (I know I'm supposed to have more, but when I first started out I had about 6 of each with some guppies. Had a bad ich attack and lost everyone except the two corys and two danios)
http://imgur.com/a/Pbs4X
I’ve been told this one is good. Recently got it, but haven’t used it. Will be doing so when I get the plants in the mail.
CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Fo2rDbWSYNRX2
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DH0QM/ + https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EM2BRO/
I found an already mixed w/b sand though when i was setting up my larger tank. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027IZDZK/
Ok, thank you. What carpeting plant do you recommend for a beginner? And what plants do you recommend in general for a beginner? Im trying to plant my 10, 20, and 29 gallon tanks, but I just need more ideas for a virgin in planted tanks. I've heard about amazon swords with root tabs (Idk what root tabs are), anubias, and others. But would love your advice.
Edit: I plan on getting this substrate for the planted portions of my tanks.
My amazon sword and anacharis loves it! Even my anubias attaches itself to the substrate even though it has a decor for itself. There's other substrate that has fertilizer for the plants but that's only an online purchase from Amazon.
I feel like it will help with keeping the tank healthy. When I changed out the substrate for another color I crashed my cycle. I asked Reddit and researched and finds out I killed a lot of good bacteria :/ But remember to get a siphon to clean it every week. I do about a 25% water change when I clean the substrate. For the plants, since I just have this substrate from petco, I add weekly or bi weekly leaf zone, also found at petco. It does what the fertilizer substrate would do.
This is the fertilizer substrate from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002DH0QM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502907088&sr=8-1&keywords=aquarium+substrate+for+plants
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JGQIY48/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502907088&sr=8-2&keywords=aquarium+substrate+for+plants
Finnex tank and FugeRAY Planted+ lighting
EHEIM Classic 250 (I have it going at about 3/4 max flow)
CaribSea substrate
I'm using eco complete substrate about 2 inches thick. And no root tabs but dosing this liquid fertilizer weekly.
I want more growth at the bottom of the tank for shorter plants, so that's why I ask if this light is cutting it in that regard. I'm open to buying another light (and selling this current one) if it isn't sufficient for my tank needs.
Here is the mobile version of your link
Thanks! The background actually blends in quite well.
I'm very satisfied with it.
I just switched from inert river gravel to this stuff.
I know that the general rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water... but is there anything else I can add to this joint to make it even more happenin'?
As far as substrate goes, I recommend Eco-Complete. It's a black gravel that works great for plants and won't cloud the tank. The only issue is that it can be a little hard to keep brand new plants, but once their roots start to establish, it's great stuff.
Looks kinda like Caribsea planted substrate.
I really like CaribSea. This is what I use in 3 of my tanks. :)
He's been in the tank for about a week. He eats well (mostly Hikari pellets, but also Betta Bug Bites) and has been getting more active with the lights on/off cycle and the same few people filtering in and out. He showed interest in the new thermometer I put in tonight and has stopped hiding every time I open the lid. (Probably because it usually means food time!)
I cycled the tank for about a week before adding him in. I did get the API Kit and my levels were good--0/0/0-5 and my pH is 7.4. I tested again tonight and have maintained the same levels.
I didn't rinse the substrate , as it said to add it directly and then water. I treated my water with the appropriate amount of conditioner that came with the tank kit. (I've ordered Seachem Prime for the water change and beyond.) I planted my plants (Not sure what I have, honestly) and left it to cycle. I dropped in an Aqueon Pure bio ball as well. I added Flourish tabs in two places after a few days when they arrived. I've also since added a moss ball.
This is my gravel vacuum. I also have a general tank kit (net, rake, etc) and a plant kit. I plan to stock Seachem Stability and Seachem Stress Guard. I ended up with a bottle of Tetra Safestart Plus because I thought I would need it, but haven't.
I'm so nervous! The last time I had a betta, my only knowledge was to take him out of the cube, put in fresh water, treat it, and dump him back in. I want to be a good fish mom!
Hello there.
I have set up my Fluval flex 15 gallon and finally added fish earlier this week :) I’m using this substrate
CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ClF4DbZ8FFGES
The substrate bed is about 3.5 inches.
The aquarium is stocked with a betta, 3 kuhli loaches and 3 albino cories (the loaches and cories will be moving to a bigger school in my 90 gallon eventually) and 2 amano shrimp.
I have no idea if they’re hitting my bioload hard enough as my water params are pristine :)
I have dragon stone and driftwood with java moss and Anubias and the fake trunk with attached anubias.
Some questions I have
Should I reduce the substrate bed size? I might add a few plants directly into the substrate, but I worry I might have too much.
If I should leave it be, should I get something to go into the substrate? Is there a fish or invert that would stir / sift this type of substrate?
Finally, how would you stock this aquarium?
The betta is a must in this tank, and I think I may get two more amano shrimp as the shrimp at the lfs are considerably large and the betta has left them alone :)
Any opinions on decor or suggestions? I’m very open to constructive criticism:)
Thank you!
I got mine on amazon but I have seen it at Petco also.
Shopping list.
Filter - https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-25772-Whisper-Filter-20-Gallon/dp/B0002DHY4K/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1503975350&sr=1-4&keywords=20+gallon+filter
Light - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C84SLRO/ref=abs_brd_tag_dp?smid=A33ZKFW4KOEZQ4
Substrate - https://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1503976036&sr=1-2&keywords=tank+sand+black
Heater - https://www.amazon.com/Mylivell-Aquarium-Heater-Submersible-Thermostat/dp/B073P6NW71/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1503976318&sr=1-4&keywords=20+gallon+tank+heater
I want to do a rock wall, like this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROZPt7M2uIk.
So I should put all the above together in the tank with water and then cycle that for 2+ weeks before trying to add plants, then cycle that another 2+ weeks before trying to add fish?
This is the substrate that my wife and I use for our planted tanks.
I used this: http://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418004937&sr=8-1&keywords=caribsea+eco+complete
You can buy it at PetCo if you don't have a decent LFS nearby. Really nice stuff for planted tanks and significantly cheaper than ADA.
Im really not to informed on that first question but on most fish i believe it doesnt, You can check online and see if the fertilizer will have any effect on the specific type of fish your looking for. I have a betta fish with a snail and some shrimp and they all do fine with it.
Java moss grows great on wood. Also i recommend getting some sort of substrate gravel. I use this
http://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418921775&sr=8-1&keywords=substrate+gravel
Not sure - I put a couple cups of this substrate in a tank, put in tap water, and let it sit for like a month. Then I added a few drops of one of those bacterial cultures for new aquariums. After a few days I tested it and all the levels I tested for were normal (pH, nitrate, ammonia), so I dumped in a few floating plants, baby ramshorn snails (~5), 4 baby guppies, and ~10 RCS. I feed them fish food once a day and the shrimp eat all the left overs. It's been in an office that doesn't get natural light for the entire several months.
Every week or two I put two liters of tap water out for 24+ hours, then remove 2 liters from the tank and add the new water in a small stream from a foot or so up, so it really disturbs the surface for gas exchange. Not sure if adding it like that makes any difference, I'm no expert.
Without knowing what your budget is, I will give it a go based off my experience.
Don't bother with dirt from your back yard, or from Home Depot. It is doable as the guide below shows, but its a pain in the ass. They make ready made substrate that helps control your pH, already has macro nutrients, has good bacteria in it, and is already rinsed.
1 20 pound bad should be all you need for a 10g. You will spend more time scaping and less time dealing with the "this could have all kinds of bad shit in here" mud in your aquarium.
Edit: Like this stuff
http://smile.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416327668&sr=8-1&keywords=Aquarium+substrate
Not sure what this qualifies as :)
This is what I bought. It has nutrients listed on the bag but I figured it wouldn't last forever and I'd need to add root tabs in the future.
CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_T4TWAbMJKVTX6
Here is a link to it on amazon.
CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DxShDbR797QXF
That would be Ecocomplete. One 20 lb bag filled the bottom of my 10g tank as you see in the photo.
https://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM
Eco-Complete currently, though I'm not sure how long I will stick with it. I prefer the sand look, and watching Cory's run their little noses through it is my favorite thing ever.
If you want sand, I do recommend Malaysian Trumpet Snails to help aerate it. Good for everyone.
The best Jarrarium substrate IMO.
Composed of crushed lava rock, its porous, Ph neutral, and you don't need to wash it beforehand.
I'm going to make this list assuming that you have Amazon in your area and that either you or someone you know has Amazon Prime. If not, then think of this as more of a template that you can tweak using what you have available to you:
Hopefully you have Amazon Prime available to you where you are, and if so none of this requires any shipping charge. If you do at most this will cost you $115.79, leaving you lots of money to spend on shrimp and plants! Hope this was helpful to you, best of luck!
CaribSea and Flourite are popular aquarium specific substrates. Another popular, and cheaper, option is to use potting soil and cap it with plain pool filter sand or cheap aquarium gravel, like this thread.
I tried a dirted tank capped with sand using the Miracle Grow Organic as the dirt. Huge mess. You're on the right track with the Eco Complete. Watch Amazon. They sometimes run the 20 pound bags for around $18us with Prime shipping.
Edit: On sale right now! CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black by Carib Sea http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_uAIutb058432X
Im not sure if this is classified as gravel, it's Carrib-Sea Eco Complete substrate. I would LOVE to try to get a carpet but am going to hold off for two reasons. First, my hairgrass carpet in my smaller tank died and now looks terrible. Second, I want to figure out the direction im going before I carpet so I can still change things up.
I'll give ordering online a go. I would love some dragonstone and driftwood to work with.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=asc_df_B0002DH0QM5273712/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0002DH0QM&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167149786275&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12283624772677739559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061331&hvtargid=pla-314920747652
I use a different substrate in each of my tanks.
Tank is about 4 years old.
The substrate is this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DH0QM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I got 4 bags, which is about 2 inches thick.
I've been trying to grow plants, but haven't been having luck. Either the fish eat them or they die. I remove dead leaves & plants from the tank asap.
I also got these as someone recommended them for the plecos: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013RXJ53Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The plecos are maybe 4-6inches. They're 3ish years old.
I have these lights fixtures on the tank: https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Fluorescent-Deluxe-24-Inch-Actual/dp/B0002AS5BE and this bulb on the side of the tank with the plants https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Replacement-Floramax-Plant-Growth/dp/B004GWXDHA
Sand can be a challenge for some beginners to get; it just depends on what plants you place in your tank. If you have plants that have high demands, you'll need to dose and use additives. For most beginners, I'd say just start with a substrate that does most of the work for you, especially if this is your first planted tank. (You'll be worrying about getting the lighting and water parameters correct.)
If you use actual sand (pool filter sand), you'll need to use root tabs or additives to the substrate to give the plants the proper macro and micro nutrients. You'll also need to dose ferts, but you might do that anyway, depending on the tank style you're trying to achieve.
If you're just going for that sand/gravel look, you'd get great results with CaribSea's Eco Complete. It's not very much ($22) compared to some other substrates, and does a fantastic job of growing plants, and looks somewhat similar to a sand/gravel effect.
> CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qFnJAbHE11F46
I think I got this:
https://www.amazon.com/CaribSea-Eco-Complete-20-Pound-Planted-Aquarium/dp/B0002DH0QM
and my wife wanted a layer of cheesy glowing stuff similar to this:
http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/glofish-pink-fluorescent-aquarium-gravel
The one place the diotoms aren't attacking is the gravel so I figured it shouldn't be the issue.