IS THIS THE BEST PLANTED TANK SUBSTRATE? Experiment Update
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- It has been 1 month since the start of this experiment! 1 tank is definitely taking the lead in terms of plant growth. Is this the best planted tank substrate?
Everything I'm using for this experiment (affiliate links)
Tank
US: bit.ly/3qE968B
EU: bit.ly/3S0rJ2J
Light
US: bit.ly/3dVYmPQ
EU: bit.ly/3D7RAB1
AQUARIO NEO SOIL
US: bit.ly/3Hopkda
EU: bit.ly/3fxvcHp
FLUVAL STRATUM
US: amzn.to/3fqiKJr
EU: amzn.to/3SruUQL
WIO WETLAND EONIAN
EU: bit.ly/3Ci1uPv
🚨Watch this next!🚨
Inspiration playlist! • Build Videos
CO2 buying guide! • BEST CO2 SYSTEM FOR BE...
How to SETUP your CO2! • EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO...
Simple fertilizer dosing! • SIMPLE AQUARIUM PLANT ...
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👉🏻 Use Code ''MJAMSTERDAM'' for 10% off Fzone products
#plantedtank #aquascape #mjaquascaping
Should we start a new experiment? Or keep this one going?
Everything I'm using for this experiment (affiliate links)
Tank
US: bit.ly/3qE968B
EU: bit.ly/3S0rJ2J
Light
US: bit.ly/3dVYmPQ
EU: bit.ly/3D7RAB1
AQUARIO NEO SOIL
US: bit.ly/3Hopkda
EU: bit.ly/3fxvcHp
FLUVAL STRATUM
US: amzn.to/3fqiKJr
EU: amzn.to/3SruUQL
WIO WETLAND EONIAN
EU: bit.ly/3Ci1uPv
🚨Watch this next!🚨
Inspiration playlist! czcams.com/play/PLrlvf56gZy-ipL3105SdfKsUBrMUSttoh.html
CO2 buying guide! czcams.com/video/dIVrr1yS3sU/video.html
How to SETUP your CO2! czcams.com/video/qSHZ4F2PI2o/video.html
Simple fertilizer dosing! czcams.com/video/I_KBOUM1RXM/video.html
👉🏻Cool Aquascaping T-shirts: mosscotton.com/ Code: mjaqua10
👉🏻Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my CZcams channel: CZcams.com/mjaquascaping
👉🏻 Use Code ''MJAMSTERDAM'' for 10% off Fzone products
#plantedtank #aquascape #mjaquascaping
keep it going for a few more months! See what happens long term.
How about a deep dive into the two top, unexpected contenders? Maybe scape two tanks, one with pond soil + aquasoil and another with Fluval and see how they compare to each other and your past history with the Neo stuff. New scapes!
Keep it going for at least 90 days.
I'd say keep it going a touch longer. I also suggested in another video for a comparison of, still water, moving water (agitated but no added air/co2), normal air agitated and co2 added to see if ambient air will have any effect on plant growth vs not having any at all. C02 and stagnate is control in this test.
I think the test should run at least 3 month. But you should handle each aquarium individual to see if ist possible to get similar results
I'm a chemist and for a quick experimental set up this is genuinely impressive.
Yes! Bio-engineer here. I like how he really tried to keep most variables constant.
The only problem here is lack of reps... But the results are very interesting anyway
@@aquapucci Yeah, its not even powered...
Can help me with me chem test😭
@@aquapucciwhats reps .sorry am lost
Number 2 for me! Internodal distance looks good and all round health and colour looks excellent. Interested to see Fluval stratum compared head to head with Tropica soil and Ada Aquasoil with and without CO2. There’s your next 6!
UNS Controsoil if possible!
oh yes, both Tropica soil and soil powder that goes underneath inert substrate!
This needs to be done for sure.
Many of us use fluval stratum for above ground plant medium for starter plants. It works great for Hoyas and really small plants with delicate roots.
I think would be interesting to go ahead and add co2 in selected top 4 aquarium...
Yup! Maybe redo the root cap one with less of them and add co2.
Please continue with adding co2! Great light+great soil+ co2 = i wanna see these results! Only way to properly gauge, in my opinion! Thanks for this experiment so far!
Hell yeah !!
Add co2🙏✌️✌️
Keep it going. You have so much experience with all different sorts of aquariums, your opinion on just which substrate might be better in which situation would be very helpful. I’m going to set up two large aquariums in the near future, I’d love to have an idea going in what would be the best substrate for what I want to do. Thanks for your terrific videos!!
Such an underrated channel. Usually channels with videos of this level of production have many more subscribers, but I imagine it’s just a matter of time :)
That's a huge amount of growth difference. Perhaps for the next one you could try soil's and us the walstad method.
I was definitely looking forward to your results! Thank you for doing this experiment.
It would be great to see a runoff between the Fluval & the Pond Soil in full Walstad method tanks!
i think ill go with pond soil on bottom and fluval on top of it.
maybe 1 inch pond soil, and 2 inch fluval.
ill pass from a 13gallon tank, upgrade to a 31gallon tank.
+ So i want to start the best as possible.
Man you have the best channel. Idk why you have so few subscribers for this quality. I love love love that you use scientific method, you get straight to the point with no personality selling and you’re really talented with this hobby. You have to keep this set up going. Add more time then right before worse tank plants get to unsalvageable add co2
it would be interesting to see this experiment again with more heavy root feeder like carpeting plants, crypts and swords. also im really surprised the root tabs caused the most nitrate and not number 6.
your timing couldn't have been more perfect. In the planning process of setting up 2 tanks right now with different requirements, had this exact question, watched part 1 yesterday, and here you are today. Thanks so much!!
I would love to see you keep it going for a while longer. As someone who had her first aquascape in June and then had to move, I'm still setting up my new one. I use fluvall stratum and I'm gratified to see that it is performing well so far. I have never had nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia at high levels.
Good work and very informative video. Appreciate all the effort you put. Thank you!
Very helpful test, I am looking to start a 10 gallon moderate to heavy planted.Looking to do low tech, so I think Fluval Stratum will be the way to go.This was a great help in seeing different setups and the results from each.
Thank you for your time In doing this. Been on the fence about getting back in the hobby after a long time. Leds weren't around. Big changes. I was spoiled my buddy owned a pet store. Do some plumbing repairs did his ro system Work a Sat and would get everything in trade for cost.
Enjoy your channel and appreciate your time
Appreciate all the effort and the scientific unbiased approach to the tests! As a next step you may compare Aquasoil and Fluval with different amount of light and CO2. Thank you for the great content!
Great experiment! Thanks so for your hard work!
Thank you for the comparing. Very useful information.
Keep it going, at least through the 3 month mark. I think that's a good amount of time to see how it's going to perform longer term. 2 weeks, things are still settling down to an equilibrium. Great info!
Keep them going. Add 1 or 2 white cloud minnows or similar to each tank and add a little maintenance as you would with your other tanks. Fascinating experiment.
Great experiment. Thank you for sharing MJ.
most underrated channel! keep up the good work
Thanks Mj for this fine work. 👍🏻
This is a huge help! Great information and interesting.
Nice video and good to see different soils and substrates work differently for a low tech setup. My guess would be due to the high ph in your water that was always lowered by your co2 usage in your other tanks, making it ideal for the plants. The pond soil + aqua soil could’ve better results due to the fact that the ph was lower and is favorable for plant growth.
This was very helpful in moving forward with my tank, I bought the fluval soil and now I know what to expect, love this thank you ❤
I’m thinking about using stratum in my next tank, did you like using it and was it easy to work with?
This is a super cool experiment! Nice job :]
I have a low tech tank so the information regarding fluval stratum was very helpful. Thanks!
Great experiment, keep them going. I learn so much from you. Greetings from Greece
Your videos are always the best man.. less talking and more things to show.. sometimes i don't understand the other CZcamsrs who always talk and explain things like we want to see their faces all the time.. we want results like yours.. good job man.
Thank you very much for these experiments! Finally some facts in the neverending substrate wars!
This has helped me A LOT my resolutions for this year os to start a planted tank n I've been debating on what soil to get
Please keep it going! This is so informative and applies to so many options. You are covering a lot of bases and we can make our own decisions depending how things turn out. I'm liking the Stratum tank, nice outcome and available here where I live. PLUS I really want to see what happens with your black worms? How big can THEY grow?😂
I think you should start again, but keep the fluval and tropica and put them up against some other brands/mixes. Like a tournament. Like others have mentioned, I think you should try and control the lighting more to make it more consistent across all the tanks. Using black plastic dividers or something.
I love these kind of experiments. No other creator is doing it.
Hope you kept this one going, love to see if the results change after months 3 and 4. After that duration, does the difference even matter or do they all start to level out? Which one causes the most work, most melt, etc.. Love the content, keep it coming.
Give it some time; be fun to see the change in a couple weeks. Thanks for doing these tests!
Now i know which soil I will buy for my next tank - FluvaL Stratum. I got no idea why i did not see this video before, but I love results with this tank. Awsome colours and health of all plants, almost no issues with algae and fact that lack of CO2 is not making a mess is huge win for me. Thanks for this video. I plan to rescape my tank in ner future, so this will be way to go. Now only design is left to choose and I am not best designer lol.
Very nice comparison. was looking forward the these results
Brilliant experiment! I really appreciate your methodology 👍
My suggestion for a follow up test: take results from 4, 5, 6, and now run similar setups with base layer of pond soil, but this time 1st capped with inert black gravel / 2nd with smaller amount of pond soil and capped with sand layer 3 times thicker than soil / 3rd keep same as original #6. Maybe you’ll find an even better substrate combo.
Keep it going, will be interesting to see what changes
Epic video! Going to be adding some multipurpose compost to a tank and adding plants. Going to top it off with gravel, cheap stuff from the garden store, and cap with some decorative sand.
Hopefully the plants will grow well and then I can add some livestock when the nitrates calm down.
been waiting for this video!! excited to see what the results are
I'm towards the end and holy cow those weird worms in tank #5 are pretty gross... burn it with fire!!
Fish absolutely love them! Mine smash them whenever they pop up
Excellent, thanks you for cool bendchmark idea, taking time to proceed.. and present nicely the result ;-)
Definitly give a try to Fluval Stratum!
I think it would be great to try this with RO water or distilled. It was great that you tested pH since that will affect certain plant growth too and I'm not sure what you're water is out of the tap. Obviously different aquasoils will lower the pH to differing levels, but it would be interesting to see how much that might have had an effect. Really great video!
That was was very helpful! Thank you!
Interesting experiment!
I would like to see you continue this experiment by trying to fix the issues with each tank.
Thanks for this experiment for making it easy for us.
This was very helpful. Thank you.
I have been using pond soil from brico for 2 years and my 60 liter Aquarium with no co2 and low dosage of nutrions are really awesome! In my experience it went really well with pond soil.
Nice experiment! I would have added a cryptocoryne in each of the compartments. Just to compare a pure root feeder versus stem plants which receive most of their nutrients from the water instead of the soil.
Great channel and love to see these kind of tests. For me No. 2 is the prevered one and looks the most natural.
Was hoping that you would also test the ADA aqua soil amazonia 2
Maybe you can add this one together with 2 other prefered soils (No 2 and 6) and start adding CO2
Thanks for this interesting experiment. I'm big fan of fugel Stratum
I must say man, I trust completely in your reading, incredible results aaaand work!!! Thank you so much for this, you're awesome man
I invested in a digital pH sensor and I will never go back to the chemical one. It is super accurate and easy as long as you care for it, basically don’t drop it or leave it dirty or anything. ❤ Great video, and I will definitely try your plant substrate method.
Great content and information. Learned a lot fast!! 🏋🏽☀️
Perfect opportunity to continue your algea experiments!
Keep it going! Great experiment!
Plz keep going. To me the stratum is looking the best. Which is what I like. Thank you for this experiment.
This is so useful! Thanks 👍
Fascinating stuff! I'd assumed I did something right because my tank has been crystal clear with excellent plant growth for many months now, but I guess that fluval stratum seems to influence that in this experiment. Maybe I just got lucky, haha. I dislike planting in it (a lot of plants struggle to stay planted until their roots dig in), but otherwise it has been a wonderful substrate to get started with.
Will be setting up a 16g soon. Ive been waiting for this video!!!!!!! Definitely want to go with pond soil and aqua soil!
Good luck! Just make sure to cap the pond soil properly!
Mark is smart😉, really man I appreciate what you are doing and thank you so much for your time, money and effort you put into the hobby. As a future project I suggest a comparison of liquid fertilizers (particularly the hyped Masterline series which you are already using vs. Tropica etc.) while keeping all other parameters equal. Would you pls tell us the quality of water (carbonates, nitrates, phosphate) you are conducting the water changes with? Sorry if this has been asked before but I stumbled across your channel just a couple days ago. (At least I found the numbers for GH 9, KH 7 and pH 8 of your tap just now).
Fascinating stuff you keep throwing out, thanks again mate and take care.
i think we should also consider the plants in the middle of each tank getting more light then the ones on the outer side since they have 2 connecting led sides and the others only have 1 side, which could be also a factor of to much light to much algae orso
Would make the Fluvol even more impressive considering how crystal clear and free from algae it was
Doesnt make sense actually
Awesome video , glad too see Fluval looking good. I think maybe now try CO2 on the tanks and give another few weeks, or even top 4. Awesome video again MJ Aquascaping
This is a great experiment, I think the fluval is a surprise and the pond soil( is it the soil or the aqua soil topping, and which aqua soil disbuds use). Keep the experiment going putting the best 2 up against the market leaders ADA, Tropica, and Dennerle. You could also trial use of base substrates such as power sand.
This is very good information to know. Tnx fellow dutchmen 😉
Your guess with the light coloured sand and more algae makes so much sense. So obvious that I never thought about that context 😀
Yes, thats a huge drawback for me, since i love using sand on top.
Good start and good video. The thing with substrate is that in nature it is stratified and has a complex structure. The other thing is that plant choice is important. #6 did better because the substrate was more complex. Add a little clay to the bottom and some buried rock/gravel (not sand) structure, and it would win by even more and with more types of plants.
Great experiment. Thanks
Just subscribed and will check out your dosing video next. I hope you keep the experiment going a bit longer maybe another 2 months. So far, I'm encouraged to give Fluval Stratum a go. I've done several sand only, sand topped soil, and Seachem Flourite tanks, so Fluval will be a new one for me. I'm also encouraged to NOT use sand in my tanks that get more light - I'd already noticed the algae issue and plant melt in my sand tanks initially every time, but this side-by-side comparison made it a bit more obvious. Thanks!
Great experiment! Thx for doing it. Would also be good to know which substrate is most beneficial for keeping healthy fish with the least amount of water changes. 😅
Keep it going. I’d be interested in seeing the same test but with distilled water. This would help create a more neutral base for others to reference against.
I'm definitely going to recreate this with some UNS contrasoil. It's the most expensive substrate by weight I can find and I'm really curious as to how it really stacks up. So I'm very happy that you helped me narrow it down to other two comparison substrates instead of 6 or 7
Continua con el experimento, es bastante interesante los resultados hasta ahora.
6 is the winner. Brilliant observation about the light reflecting off the white gravel increasing illumination❤
Didn’t expect root tabs to be so nutrient rich. The fluval substrate looks perfect for low tech setups.
The way capped dirt works is the nutrients leaching slowly into the water. Too thin layer of sand (soft gravel) and nutrients cause algae calamity. With recommended 2"/5cm thickness the nutrients seep slowly and the plants need to reach nutrient-rich levels with their roots. So the plants won't grow fast from the start, but over the months that would change.
As the experiment goes, I think #4 wasn't capped properly and #6 may see some issues in the 1-2 months, but maybe not. Aquasoil also falls apart after some time. I'd say the best substrate would be thick bed starting with rich soil, thick layer of sand, some aquasoil and thin capping of sand. That is if I were to start a large planted aquarium going for years. For nano-tanks I'd go with pure aquasoil.
thank you for the great idea Sir... i will add aqua soil in my gravel tank soon...😍😍😍
I used aquasoil and fine round pebble sand. Had to clean the sand a lot though, but it's a dark colour with specks of other lighter colours. Looks like teeny tiny micro pebbles. Has worked fantastic. I cut the plants back weekly. No ferts and no C02 at all. The only issue is diatoms, no algae at all. But it's a shrimp and snail only tank and full of baby shrimp that graze on the diatoms, so guess that's great. It is a deep bed with red scoria at the bottom then the aquasoil and then the sand. I have to say the sand is so much easier to plant in that aquasoil, so glad I did it this way.
Great experiment update
Excellent experiment
Hi Mark, all good stuff. Think you are spot on ref. substrate colour and reflected light, once put a mirror on the back of a tank, not a good idea, loads of algae. High Nitrates are blamed consistently for eutrophication of rivers so I am also sure you are right on the issue of Nitrate leaching and spiking the water column. The Phosphate readings surprise me as well. Iron is hard to measure and it contributes to a healthy green in plants, not as simple as red iron = red plants as some think. Red plants tend to like low Nitrate levels and softer water - not just more acidic water. The water softening effect from the most effective substrate mix also needs to be factored in, especially for the unlocking of limited dissolved CO2. All not easy to do. Thanks again, but, I'm too old to think about a PhD in chemistry!
Great experiment. Thanks for doing this. I do want to point out that there is a variable for which you didn't account. The middle chambers are getting more light than the side chambers. They get direct light from above and some from the lights above both chambers beside them while the side chambers only get light from above and one side.
It is interesting that despite this, you still got the best growth in a side chamber.
I'd like to see it continue mate. I'm also very interested to see the difference with added co2 injection to them as part of the test...
I say keep it going for maybe another 2 or 3 months to see how the substrates do over the longer period. Very interesting experiment.
Thank you for sharing! ❤
Eu mantinha a experiência pelo menos mais um mês.
Estou realmente surpreso que as abas de raiz causaram mais nitrato e não o número 6. O número 6 é uma excelente surpresa.
Abraço desde Portugal!
I kept the experience for at least another month.
I'm really surprised that the root tabs caused more nitrate and not the number 6. The number 6 is an excellent surprise.
Hugs from Portugal!
Great experiment, you help me decide to get the fluval soil that is available here in the states.
Thank you so very much for this
Very useful video, thank you!
I've been using Flourite in my 10 gal (expensive stuff) which is like gravel but much finer. I've noticed the roots are much more developped, a lot more rizome as well, and my plants are thriving! I'd like to see Fourite topped with gravel :)
im going to try the Fluval stratum. nice channel
Hey MJ, I love this kind of information. I think you're right. There are so many factors when trying to answer the question on the best substrate. Each individuals particular setup and different methods of growing plants would influence the results as to be definitive in analyzing the test results. Still though, i did enjoy the test you conducted. Later, MJ.
you did a lot of work
I can't find aquasoil in my area so I used Fluval Stratum and I love it, everything grows very well, even a year and half later. Advice, put on a good 2-3 inches of substrate to let the roots sink in deep.
Top video cheers mate 👍🏽
Please keep this experiment going. It’s extremely helpful. I noticed when I was doing aqua soil mix with pond soil eventually all my aquariums pH level shot up to 8.4, even ones that I was using distilled water in. I reset all but one with just aqua soil it’s actually the flu Stratham, the pH is staying low and not shooting up. I’m curious to see results of all of these different substrates.
Very good info, thank you. I have sand substrate and my tank went through a huge crash or two in the past month. I decided to add some stratum to the tank that has just inert sand. I wish I could replace it all, but I am going to leave the sand and just add stratum to it and let the fish decide what to do with it when they are able to get back into it. Theyve been in a hospital tank since the crash that happened after a water change. My plants have never grown very well, and when they did, I ended up getting staghorn algae. I do water changes 10-25% every week, but my water changes constantly because we get our water trucked in and I have a water softener. I am so annoyed with this situation, but I dont want to give up on fishkeeping. I really don't know what to do at this point. I am still water changing every week without fish in the tank, as it had to go through the nitrogen cycle again after the crash. I probably should have just started all over again. My water comes out at 6.0 or less pH - what can I add to my tank to buffer the pH to stay around 7.0 pH? Eggshells?
An interesting follow up would be: How would you fix each tank (not changing the substrate) for example: how would you set the light, or dose nutrients, or ad co2, etc… to make each substrate work?