There's a clear distinction between high-tech planted tanks and basic planted fish tanks. One's essentially an aquatic garden, possibly without fish, while the other is a fish tank with plants. The approach differs depending on the goal.southoak wrote: ↑Sat Mar 01, 2025 10:40 pm I'm setting up a 29 gallon and I want to do it right this time. I've always gone budget, but now I'm thinking of investing in a nice planted scape with quality materials. I'm leaning towards using eco complete as the substrate. Now I'm torn between using two bags of eco complete or layering dirt underneath and capping it off with eco complete. What do you guys think would be the best option for a beautiful planted tank?
Assuming this is primarily a fish tank with plants, an inert substrate with necessary nutrient supplementation does the trick. As I mentioned before, the initial CO2 kick is the only real benefit, but this is only crucial for an aquatic garden with dense planting that requires immediate nutrient supplementation and CO2. If the tank is well-planted initially, you can add fish right away, which adds nutrients from their waste. The CO2 comes from fish, plant, and bacteria respiration, mainly from the decomposition of organics in the substrate. Snails help break this down, speeding up the decomposition process. I usually see plant growth within a week or two. Supplementation with substrate tabs and liquid provides a steady supply of other essential nutrients.