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Is pool filter sand a good substrate for plants? Also, what are the advantages of flourite.

I've never found sand to do well for me, and I'm not sure about pool filter sand. The pro's of flourite are: it's designed with plants in mind, meaning it's a proper size for them and has some nutrients locked away that plant roots can use. Also, it's a natural clay color, and looks pretty good. Plants will grow in this substrate better than normal inert gravel or sand. It does have some downsides. It needs a lot of rinsing, and will cloud the tank for a while, but that settles fine. Eco complete is another planted tank substrate, and has taken care of those downsides, but since I've not had it for very long, I'm not exactly sure how it compares, growth wise, compared to flourite.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi,
You might want to check out this link before deciding on
the substrate for your tank:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/plant_substrates.php

You can use sand (of nearly any type), aquarium gravel,
or some plant friendly substrates such as Fluorite,
Laterite, or the newer Echo Complete or Aqua soil, etc.

Substrates for planted aquariums should be three to four
inches deep. This gives plants the density to grow a good
root system and room for the bacteria that turn waste into
nutrients to grow and thrive. Sand, that thick, tends to
pack tighter and tighter as the spaces between grains
become clogged with dust and dirt. Eventually, there is no
circulation between the tank and the lower layers. Those
layers become anaerobic and can be toxic to the fish and
plants should the hydrogen sulfide get into the tank water.

Sands are difficult to clean, and white sand is the
absolute worst to keep white. If you opt to use sand, keep
the layer thin, less than two inches, and use cories, or
loaches, or MTS to keep the sand from compacting.

Personally, I prefer Fluorite. It is fractionated (baked)
laterite (ancient weathered clay) that has been crushed into
#2 or #3 aquarium gravel size and is rich in iron. It does
not "wear out" over time and provides the iron that plants
need for growth as well as an excellent medium for root
growth. It is a clay however, and steps must be taken in
adding it to the tank to reduce clouding the water.
Diatom filter is almost a must when using Fluorite.

Frank


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