Whats the best substrate for planted tank ?

[DR.V]

I want to build another planted tank for discus, a heavily planted tank.
Just wondering what does people think of the best substrate for planted tank ??

Thanks

[duck]

There are 3 substrate's that come to mind,Flourite,Eco-Complete,ADA power soil's.
These are stand alone substrate's so need to add any layer's that can get a little mixed up when uprooting plant's,And you can forego the substrate fert's.

[skoom]

how much do these products cost? roughly....

is there a substrate called flora base? any good?

thanks.

[DR.V]

Hi duck, which substrate would you recommned out of those 3 ? Flourite,Eco-Complete,ADA power soil's ?

I was thinking the ADA, by looking at all his great aquascaping ....

But does ADA available in Australia ? I havent seen much around here ...

[duck]

The Eco and the flourite are on par but the colour is what it will come to.
I have Eco so i would recomend ? because it is black and never goe's out of fashion

ADA product's i don't think are here yet, Going by what ive been reading about it, it is going to be expensive, have not read a bad thing about it,Except that you have to change it every couple of year's,This is only what i have read about it, i have not used it.
If i remember correctly Red sea do flora base,Not read anything about the product.

[DR.V]

Thanks for the info duck,

With the Eco, do you need another layer underneath ? like a fertilizer layer ?

Also can it go abit greenish ? As in algae grow on them ?

I had a white substate once, man... they look great under bright light, but after a few months it goes a bit brownish and greenish coz algae grow on them.
At the end, i changed the substrate.

So I want to setup a big planted tank, with a substrate that will look great for a long period of time.

[duck]

Both Eco And flourite are stand alone substrate's no need for anything else no layer's,Some people do put a a very thin layer of peat,But that,s to kick start the substrate, it's not needed.
I have had mine just over a year now and no greenish or algea growing on it,You can't go much wrong with a black substrate.

[goldenpigeon]

where do u get it and how much does it cost?

[DR.V]

Thanks for the advice duck

[duck]

where do u get it and how much does it cost?

It's not cheap,But IMHO worth it.