I am starting up my tank and i already have sand but someone told me i needed ” substrate ” for plants to grow but someone else told me that Sand is the substrate ? Help plz
-FreshWater-
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Sand is a substrate.
I have sand in my 38 gallon, and in one of my 10 gallons. Trust me, the plants do JUST fine. Here is the 10 gallon:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/728f31ae8be0579e0598bd6…
It had stated with the log with the little plant in it, the water sprite (back right), and 2 of those frill plants. This is where we are today, just 3 months later.
Sand is a substrate.
Gravel, flourite, aragonite, and others are also substrates.
Your acquaintance probably you meant one of the special substrates for planted tanks. These substates provide some plant nutrients. Aquatic plants get their nutritents primarily from the water, however.
Here are a few examples of special substrates for aquarium plants:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display…
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display…
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display…
There are many other brands and styles of substrates if you want to look for them.
The central problem with sand as a plant substrate is that the sand tends to compact into a solid mass, and when it does, the roots don’t get as much water moving past them, and therefore they don’t get enough oxygen. This is more of a problem for some aquatic plants than others.
Another problem with sand in any aquarium is that it can get sucked into a filter and damage the filter.
sand is the substrate