DannyC Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) Okay, so I am working on this tank and am about to add fluval stratum to it on the right side which is where I will be planting. Currently you are seeing lava rock in that area and my question is this. Can I put the fluval stratum on top of this or should I remove the lava rock and put the stratum on the bottom and then cap it with the lava rock? I know that if I put the stratum on top of it it will make its way down in between the lava rock, but I'm not totally sure that's a bad thing. Wouldn't that just promote better water flow though out the substrate and prevent any anaerobic areas? The only thing I can really think of that may be an issue would be something root related like roots growing down past the stratum into the lava rock and not getting the same nutrient quantity as it would if it were on the bottom. Thanks for any insight! Edited January 6, 2022 by DannyC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottieB Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Nice looking tank. You may get some other opinions but if your gonna do both the stratum and the lava rock just put the stratum in top since you already have the rock down. I think your spot that it will mix over time but in the initial growth phase of the new plants they will appreciate having assess to the top layer of stratum. Also the water flow through the deeper layer is important. By the time the roots are penetrating deeper the plants will be established enough to draw nutrients from any available source. I'm not sure my opinion is worth much but honestly you can have success doing it either way. Would like to see how it evolves so keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumson Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 I agree with @ScottieB. The lava rock at the bottom will also help with planting because fluval stratum is a pretty light substrate and plants can often become uprooted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyC Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 @Sumson @ScottieB So I decided to remove some of the lava rock. I left like a single layer at the bottom, put the stratum on top, then capped back with another layer of lava rock. Looks basically the same as the photo I already posted so I won't post one right now. Plants should be here in a week so I will update with a picture then. Sticking to low light plants since I'm fairly new to planted tanks. I've tried planted ones before, but definitely tried to do more than I was capable of knowledge wise and was never really successful. So I'm just going to go back to the basics and build my knowledge from the bottom up! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumson Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 That's good to hear! I hope the best for you and I'm looking forward to your planted scape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyC Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) @Sumson @ScottieB Just got plants in the tank. xmas moss on the rock cave on the left, val in the back, amazon sword on the right, dwarf sag front right, and between val and sag are 3 crpyt wendtii, and anubias nana's on the rocks dividing sand and lava rock/stratum Edited January 13, 2022 by DannyC 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottieB Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Really looking nice! What are you doing for fish? you got a lot of options as I see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyC Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 I'm planning on about 20 rummynoses and a pair of Apisto Agassizii fire reds. Then probably about 6 otos for algae control. It's only a 30 long so it will probably be at its limit filtration wise. Have a fluval 206 cannister on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH Morant Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 I think you can pull out those brackets on each end of the light and put them away. Might make the line a little cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Wow, very nice! I think it’ll grow in to make a great home for all those tetras. They’ll look great swimming in and out of the val and dwarf sag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mydonkeyfish Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Nice tank😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 This is a great start, can't wait to see when it's grown in a bit in a month or 2! Keep updating this or start a journal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyC Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 @Beardedbillygoat1975 how do I start a journal? I'm fairly new to this site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 https://forum.aquariumcoop.com/forum/8-photos-videos-journals/ This is the link to the journal section of the forum. You just start a thread like you did in the Plants section. Copy the address for this page and drop it into the message to reference it and just start blabbering on and on about your tank(s) like the rest of us! Welcome to the forum and hope if you have any questions feel free to ask away! Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyC Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 Awesome, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 @DannyC, you can put a link to your journal in your signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing RC Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Hi I am new here and have a similar question for substrate. Setting up a shrimp and guppy planted tank. I have Fluval Stratum and also the Eco-complete that co-op recommended. Should I mix the 2 or place the Stratum on the bottom with a cap of Eco-Complete on top? Thanks for any advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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