Need some help . . . Substrate substitute

[TankMaster]

It's so sad to see all my aquaria being sold because of my busy work schedule so I decided to get cracking on a Nano Tank that is less demanding with regards to time and can be cleaned in under an hour.

I have a few issues though . . . Substrate. I found a place to buy black sand from so the cap is sorted . . .now for the hectic part . . .how do I prevent PFP + Chemicult from releasing tannins and making the water brown ? Will weekly W/C prevent this or could I plant a 1ft successfully without the need of PFP + C at all?

Is the tank small enough that the need for PFP is not required? Will the plants grow just as well with just the black sand, ferts (Planning on DSD :D) + DIY CO2?

Regards

TM

[Whipme]

I personally think you're putting too much into it. A nano is far too small to have such a complicated substrate. If you really want to make it simpler, just get some Seachem Flourite black ;)
Otherwise look at using some sort of nutrient rich soil if you're really adamant about high plant growth.

[TankMaster]

Well all I want is just lush, green plants. I don't want them to wither away and die or go brown. I will have to compare prices between the black sand I am getting and regular fluorite.

Now to find somewhere that stocks fluorite . . .hhmmmf

Thanks for the reply though :) . . +1 for you

TM

[Rudi]

TankMaster,
In a tank that small,dosing via the water column will be sufficient and won't cost you a arm and a leg.In my own big tank,300+ L,I have pool filter sand and dose via the water column exclusively.I have no problems.

[TankMaster]

What ferts are you using??? That tank is amazing!!!

I think I will be fine just using ferts and DIY CO2 . . thanks for the reply . .+1 for you as well :D

TM

[Vis]

Yeah @Rudi (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=304) , you should have mentioned that you do not just dose any bottle ferts :)

If I have it correct Rudi use pressurized CO2 and EI dosing.

Do think you will get away with column dosing in such a small tank.

[Rudi]

Thanks for the compliment.
I mix my own DIY macro fert and use Trellmix for micro's,but if you stick with Prof. Dirk's stuff,you should be fine.
The ferts are one component in having a successful planted tank,don't forget the rest is also important.
And for me the most important is maintenance,maintenance and maintenance.

[dangerousd]

TankMaster,
In a tank that small,dosing via the water column will be sufficient and won't cost you a arm and a leg.In my own big tank,300+ L,I have pool filter sand and dose via the water column exclusively.I have no problems.

Jeeeesse that tank looks incredible.... one day when I'm big my tank will look like that

[Zoom]

TM---

"Nano" and "less maintenance" should not be used in the same sentence. (in my opinion at least!) But let me go on to clarrify!

My Nano had PFP, capped with a good layer of midnight black substrate, and I NEVER had any leeching. (Even my main tank which has had PFP for a month now hasn't leeched AT ALL... no idea why you guys are all getting leeching!) I used PFP PLUS water column ferts. My tank was CONSTANTLY overrun with algae.... and I mean it was bad! All the photo's you see of my tank are after I've cleaned it. The following day, algae starting again. I reached the point where I was going to actually pack up the Nano.

2 weeks ago I rescaped the Nano, and took out the PFP. Now the tank stays clean algae free for at least 6 days. My opinion.... forget the PFP in such a small tank. Rather go DSD only for now.

And yes, you probably can do the maintenance in under an hour... but instead of doing maitenance once a week, I was doing it 3 times a week at one stage!

[TankMaster]

Thanks for the reply Zoom :)

Well The Professor sent me his list and is still advising me according to my needs. Once he tells me what I need . . I will place an order. I am picking up a Boyu Nano Kit later next week . . . so I am really stoked . .

Thanks again. We can talk about this when the actual planting starts :)

TM

[Chris M]

TankMaster,
In a tank that small,dosing via the water column will be sufficient and won't cost you a arm and a leg.In my own big tank,300+ L,I have pool filter sand and dose via the water column exclusively.I have no problems.

Excuse my ignorance, what is the "water column"?

[Relborg]

"The "water column" is just a two-bit term for the visible water (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/water.html) in the tank, i.e., the water (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/water.html) between the substrate (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/substrate.html) and the water (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/water.html) surface level."

[Chris M]

"The "water column" is just a two-bit term for the visible water (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/water.html) in the tank, i.e., the water (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/water.html) between the substrate (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/substrate.html) and the water (http://en.mimi.hu/aquarium/water.html) surface level."

Thank you Relborg, appreciate the explanation.