best (cheap) substrate for plants

[elementkid65]

well i,ve spent heaps on my 40 gallon tank
so i want cheap substrate\
so far
lights t5 156 watt= $135
ehiem cannister= $150
tank= $50
stand=already have
heater=$30
other internal fillter= $20
plants= (havent got yet but ordered) $70
just need gravel

sand for me in planted tanks go's bad for some reason
but without plants its fine.
so im going gravel

so whats the best gravel for plants?
is it fine gravel or larger gravel?

sand for me in planted tanks go's bad for some reason
but without plants its fine.
so im going gravel
thanks

 

[Mgamer20o0]

fine gravel. soildmaster select.

 

[jmhart]

soilmaster select for sure. Online Lesco has it for like $13.50, at the store it may be $9.50(it was for me in Concord, CA 6 days ago). It's a 50lb bag....it'll cover a lot.

 

[CitizenShane]

im kinda worried that you overpaid for some stuff too. I dont think i spent that much on my 250 gallon tank (except buying the tank),and I have two canisters and an eheim pond fountain pump in my tank, and a power head for circulation.

but the finer the substrate the better for rooting really, but ive been told that with fine sand you have to worry about methane build up, I have peacock eels, kuhli loaches, and a weather loach that do a fine job or rotating the sand. But the roots hold very well.

 

[jmhart]

im kinda worried that you overpaid for some stuff too. I dont think i spent that much on my 250 gallon tank (except buying the tank),and I have two canisters and an eheim pond fountain pump in my tank, and a power head for circulation.

If it's brand new stuff, he did pretty good on price.

Recent addtions to my tank:

2 Visi-Therm Stealth heaters: 2X 15.99 = $31.98
DIY 126W Hood: $75
DIYCO2 w/hagen ladder: $27(paid too much for the ladder at LFS for $17)
Used Eheim 2026: $100

 

[gmh]

I have heard good reviews on soilmaster select, but do they sell it over there? If not I would bite the bullet and order three 20 pound bags of Eco-complete. You may find it for around 20 dollars US per bag on the internet.
It is not cheap but it is a permanent addition to the tank and it is easy to work with. No fuss, just pour it in the tank and add water.

 

[GirlieGirl8521]

I agree, fine gravel or Soilmaster select if you can find it.


With 156w of T5 over your tank, you should get a pressurized co2 system.....DIY won't cut it IMO. Thats ALOT of light.

 

[OhNo123]

What is so good about soilmaster?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

cheap gravel that helps plants. i still use reg gravel from lowes that $2.50 for 50 pounds. dont soildmaster is the best but for the price you cant beat it.

 

[elementkid65]

eco complete over here is $50 a 9kg bag id need 2 bags at least so thats not cheap!
and the stuff i got is brand new