Substrate 101 - Understanding a Crucial Part of Planted Tanks

[@RedFishBlueFish]

Excellent video, straight to the core on substrate. I’m actually alarmed at the hype around deep sand beds being great for planted tanks ATM 😱

[@Power2ThePeaceful]

KZbin algorithm gods brought me here so this comment is my way to pay it forward. Great video series great KZbin channel. Thank you Bentley 🤙🏽

[@BentleyPascoe]

Thanks Dylan!

[@TheUndiscribables865]

Bentley, I'm not sure if you've ever heard of grafting or not but It's where you take one type of a plant and mold a branch from it to another type of plant. The plant will grow the other types branch as long as they are in the same family. A good experiment would be to try that on aquarium plants. If it worked itd make for cool looking tank designs.

[@davidromanov8308]

I’d love to know more about how Eco-complete works!

[@patrickshaw5955]

Same!

[@Nutakins]

Eco-Complete is simply crushed volcanic lava rock, which in itself is inert. The bag Eco-Complete comes in contains a liquid surrounding the rocks and provides beneficial bacteria to help start a planted tank. This will get used up over time so you may eventually need to supplement the substrate with root tabs and/or liquid ferts. I have experimented with it quite a bit as i like the look of the black substrate. I have capped it with aquasoil previously with decent results. Mostly to build up height under the aquasoil to prevent anaerobic bacteria(or that was the thought anyway... worked for 2 years before starting over so not sure if that was long enough to know for sure). I currently have 2 tanks with it in use: 1 - 3 gallon Walstad bowl where i used it to cap potting soil which produced/produces amazing results! & 2. Mixed around 1:1 with aquasoil in a 20 gallon tall, high tech tank, with beautiful results there as well. If interested in more on this, please let me know. Looking forward to Bentley's experience and info on this as I'd love to know more about how others have used it(hopefully successfully! ha).

[@chefrarestones1960]

Your gonna break Dustin’s heart with your talk about dirted tanks!!! 🤣

[@caewalker9276]

I love my dirted tanks. I'm not moving stuff around all the time so the mess is not an issue for me.

[@TheTricks1122]

Love ur videos bro you make it so easy for beginners one of these days love to shake your hand for all ur time u do to bring us your videos

[@BentleyPascoe]

I look forward to it! Nothing I love more than getting to meet fellow fish folks

[@civrn368]

I enjoyed this series very much and most importantly learned new things about different substate which is the most important to me.

[@stevecox8066]

Thanks for your explanation of background and awards. I was definitely wondering how this guy knows so so much! This is awesome stuff

[@ejfishes7610]

Anything I can learn about plants from you Bentley is a plus in my book! Looking forward to this!

[@turritopsisdohrnii2070]

I was contemplating changing my substrates on a number of tanks [20+]' I now know more hanks to your videos. Thanks for being a remote 'mentor' for us.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Happy to help! Given the number of tanks, make sure you check the first part of the live stream on alternative substrate options!

[@turritopsisdohrnii2070]

@@BentleyPascoe Wilco. On my list for this evening...

[@scottschillinger2623]

Can’t wait for this series

[@floydsfishes2856]

I'm liking where this is going thank you👍👍

[@bubblerings]

Don't let his style of humility scare you off.. 9:20 He does have some on his other videos. Lol. Bentley's info is quite good!!! If I heard his personal intro on this one, first... I may have missed out. A happy subscriber. The man has saved me from reinventing the wheel.

[@sherrycramer1655]

Looking forward to this series 👍🏻

[@clayd9477]

Thanks for another informative video Bentley! Keep up the awesome work

[@tonyhind6992]

I have used potting soil for 10 years and it the easiest substrate to use. I don't know why people find dirt tanks so hard to understand. I never had plants grow well until I started using dirt.

[@joesneed]

Great video thank you Bently

[@richardcolligon4277]

I'm looking forward to the next 101 video's.

[@bethfoort]

I’m setting up my 3rd planted tank and looking to branch out from gravel. Thank you!

[@gavinyuen040680]

loving the content

[@peartreeaquatics1362]

From one professional to another, I really enjoy the way you have your talking point segments labeled in these types of videos. As always, I really enjoyed this video and am looking forward to the next video Pascoe!

[@brianklimaszewski]

So my ADA power sand is eco complete from an old tank with small amount of dirt added, pretty much a dusting, and then a few root tabs mixed up and then capped with fluval stratum.

[@jackanddan]

Good stuff....more better substrate=more better tank hahaha....we thinks lava rock is our favorite substrate and always has been....but we have used all of them and do currently have several different ones as well....great video as usual dude🌱🌱🌱🌱🤘🤘

[@janicelundberg3156]

Hey Bentley, This is the one thing I struggle with the most! I am sooo looking forward to this series!

[@MridulSinghMusic]

Thank you for doing this series! One this I would like to know is the longevity of each substrate. I have been running tanks with near every substrate you can find under the sun, and have interesting results. I would like to know if my results match those of others, and if they don't, I would like to know what I did differently to attain those results. On a side note, I would also like to see a mini series on how to become an Aquatic Horticulturist. Before the quarantine, when I used to work in my LFS during summer break (I am a college student) many people would come in and ask about the program. I would spend lots of time on advising people, and they would ask for a video to sum it up. I would appreciate if such a series could be found on the internet.

[@dustinloy5405]

I like this crazy fat guy he talks about plants and I like that haha brand new to the world of tanks new to plants, always loved to learn and you know what your talking about.. thank you for the information and for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@MasterPhotographer]

Looking forward to learning more about substrates. Your videos are always so informative.

[@lonewalker8016]

Really enjoying your content Bentley and looking forward to the rest of this series to help me decide what to use in my new tank.

[@DnASnakes]

I love this series Bently. I have watched the first 2 parts. Keep em comming.

[@WOLFE221]

I use a close to 50/50 mix of small to medium size river gravel and eco complete. The plant roots adhere to the eco complete while the heavier gravel helps stabilize the plants and gives them a sturdy base.

[@BentleyPascoe]

You could also do eco complete as a base layer with a gravel cap, similar to dirted tank style systems.

[@fvvfvbbbb]

​​@@BentleyPascoebetter to use gravel than a sand cap sounds like?

[@sharronmiller451]

Good info!!

[@StephenP2003]

Looking forward to learning the differences between the active substrate choices.

[@steveallen3845]

Good video!

[@jackadair6225]

Looking forward to this series. I’ve watched so many videos on substrate because for whatever reason substrate is just interesting to me lol

[@jughead8988]

A comment to feed the algorithm monster. It's obvious your way more comfortable in front of the camera since your first appearance on the oc-op. Your personality is really coming out. It food to see! Keep it up

[@alexkostel3777]

I'm excited to see this new series. I can't wait to see what I learn. Thank you Bentley!

[@newmexicoaquatics282]

Great primer! Thanks Bentley! - Little Bobby

[@omgifoundnemo6412]

This is going to be so cool. I’m really excited to see the rest of these videos 😬

[@warriors475]

great video as always looking forward to the rest of the series as i am interested in this subject thanks again for your expertise.

[@gambiarran419]

Hey Bentley, Looking forward to this. I do hope you include the additions that some put into tanks too; such as various woods and plastics and how they can help/hinder plant growth.

[@jaxntax5509]

I too vary on my substrieght and I cap and blend more often then not. I very much like to see how my trial and error aligns with others. I keep mostly nano fish and shrimp. I love plants too. Long ago I was a botoney major I never completed my degree life got in the way.

[@kfuhrman2008]

looking forward to the series

[@quki3]

Wait.. you actually get people complaining that you talk about planted tanks and rainbow fish? Who are these weirdos?😂omgosh! I just saw a little 15 gallon tank at my LFS with Furcata rainbow fish and another 20 gallon of blue eyed red rainbows and I am IN LOVE! As soon as I make room with the fish & mystery snails I accidentally bred while I was setting up my first (6) tanks … sigh. 😢 anyone interested in white mystery snails, mosaic dumbo guppies and endler livebearer ?

[@TankTastic]

Eco-complete for the win! Both price and plant growth.

[@byz513]

Great video

[@magnusfrivoll5473]

I'm looking forward to this series. I'm currently running 2 tropica soil tanks, 1 dirted tank with sand cap, 2 tropica growth substrate with sand cap and 2 completely inert (1 fine sand, 1 fine gravel/coarse sand) and I'm interested to hear your take on various substrates.

[@kayhalliday2676]

Thanks, looking forward to the rest

[@chubzaquatics257]

Looking forward to the hole series

[@aquariumplantman]

Hey Bentley, looking forward to the active soil content. I have only really used ADA Amazonia in the past & just starring to play with Tropica substrate. 🌱

[@Evil_Genius_888]

I’m just starting to move away from inert substrate. The biggest issue is cost, but now that I’m a little bit more knowledgeable and have a little bigger budget I can upgrade. Thanks!

[@kelleyforeman]

I’ve used baseball field soil conditioner (worked okay), black diamond blasting grit (surprisingly awesome) and mineralized topsoil (algae blowout!). I’m going to try Fluval Stratum next. We’ll see what I think! I’m interested in your thoughts on substrates, too!

[@aquaticthumb5193]

I'm not surprised by your likes it's what you're experienced with. Just like Father Fish likes dirted tanks. When you experiment more with other systems like anoxic/anaerobic filtration or other soil media more than once, will your opinion be of more value. Use your Collage/job education help us all out and experiment.

[@swatch12345]

Always happy to learn more about planted tanks! Heads up Fluorite Red just went on sale at Amazon for $11.50 a bag if anyone is interested. Lowest price it's ever been.

[@jamesdugdale2381]

Loving your videos👍🏼 kept fish for years but new too plants could you recommend low light no ferts plants please if that’s possible. Thanks

[@BentleyPascoe]

Anubias, crypt wendtii, water Sprite would be my suggestion. Java fern can work, but it likes potassium and no ferts makes that hard

[@jamesdugdale2381]

Bentley Pascoe brilliant thank you so much.

[@JustDoinFlorida]

I’ve always wondered the difference between seachem fluorite and a more clay ball style substrate like Fluval Stratum, particularly how the different shapes of the substrate impact root and runner growth.

[@Kaitlin.D]

I really like the look of the smooth beach pebbles but am struggling to find it in grey/black. Do you have any ideas of where I could find something like that? I’m also in the Seattle area.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Best bet is a rock yard looking for small versions of Mexican river stone I believe

[@John-Ebsen]

I'm not into rainbow fish, and I don't do a lot of plants but I like learning about all things aquariums. I'm doing a lot of sand lately because I'm keeping a lot of geophagus.

[@FatherFH]

I think someone should try swamp dirt for a plant only tank. I would not trust it with fish but for plants it should be awesome

[@texasfish8382]

Strange, I am a fairly newbie and have very good success with dirted tanks. I use about 0.5 to 1 inch of dirt from the backyard and use around 4 inches of washed sand from the nearby creek. My water is very hard and high ph. Every plant I have tried has grown great. What am I doing wrong?

[@BentleyPascoe]

Actually it's what you're doing right. You're hitting on something I'll cover in the dirt video which is often people use WAY too much

[@texasfish8382]

I will wait for that video with baited breath. :) thanks.

[@-8_8-]

You talk about the master culturalist achievement, for me I don't even know where there's a club I could drive to. At least not one that's not salty. I kind of stuck with KZbin and wherever else I can pick up a little bit.

[@waynetalbot2784]

Wish I could change my sand substrate, to seachem fluorite but worried in case my fish stock wouldn't cope with the mess produced from it even after washing it through many times.

[@billcoleman782]

Have gotten your shipment of Rainbows yet? Mixing aqua soils.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Had to delay until next week to get time off work to be there.

[@LittleLargeMouth]

“And finally we’ll CAP it all off” pun intended?

[@toddpayne6414]

👍

[@spyrit35]

Here, let me give you a hand with this algorithm thing Bentley, .... “comment” ... :).... I’m really looking forward to this series though (for real).

[@BentleyPascoe]

Did you feel that? KZbin algorithm magic just happened! 🤣

[@originalgamesta6268]

Here for the algorithm

[@jamesshepherd2480]

Check out md fish tanks he has a load of soil based substrate. He just goes out to a field digs it up bakes it in the oven so it’s ready to use in the tank.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Yep, I've watched his channel, he does great stuff

[@pams.6896]

I will be looking for the next video in the series. We're not worthy! lol

[@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058]

how deep do stem plants need to be planted in the substrate I haven't seen a video that talks about this to help people They talk about the types of substrate & everything BUT "how deep do stem plants need to be planted in the substrate"

[@BentleyPascoe]

Typically about 2 inches is enough. You just want them to stay in place and begin building root systems. You can plant deeper, this just helps build a bigger root system long term.

[@kentsfish9761]

1

[@vb2377]

Where is the dojo loach???

[@BentleyPascoe]

Danger Noodle is still in there he/she just hides a ton

[@vb2377]

Bentley Pascoe I see! I always watch him and listen to you. No offense haha. I love dojos. I have one myself.

[@andystokes8702]

This comment serves no useful purpose other than to feed the algorithm monster.