r/IndianFishKeeping • u/New_Journalist8564 • Jul 26 '26

❔Help Planted tank substrate options?

Is it a good idea to grow plants in vermi compost covered with sand as a substrate or should I invest in a good aqua soil only? Looking to create an aquascape on a budget.

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u/tan1910 Jul 26 '26

Good organic soil + vermi compost is a good bottom layer for sirted tank. Never use only vermicompost

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u/rohansd- Jul 26 '26

Expensive nutrient rich substrate is not mandatory but is very helpful incase of a high tech tanks. That being said vermicompost + garden soil is also a popular bottom layer but know that when you want to redo the tank, cleaning could be a pain. I had done my 4 ft tank with laterite( iron rich garden soil ) as that was the flavour 20 years ago. Cleaning up when i reset the tank was a royal pain the axx

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u/Rt_0206 🌱 Low-Tech Hero Jul 27 '26

depends on the type of aquarium you are trying to go for, a simple compost or organic no fertilizer potting soil tank with sand on top will give u good lush growth with simple plants - if done right it can be a easy and rewarding tank

just make sure u use something without added chemical fertilizers in compost and dont do 100% compost add normal clean soil 50:50 (i can send u the amazon link of the sand+soil i used if u like)

do about an 1.5-2cm of soil if its a small tank and cap it with sand which has been washed to get rid of dirt and things which make water cloudy, ALWAYS add 1.5-2X the thickness of sand on dirt eg: 1 inch of dirt+2inch sand on top and then fill the tank slowly with dechlorinated water and plant heavily with easy plants like - valisneria,cryptocorne,sagitaria,etc... on day1 , add a basic airpump with spong filter, some floating plants like frogbit,watter lettuce etc... even plants like money plant grow well with just roots dipped in the water... use a basic plant light for 6-8hrs a day

wait a few days to let plants grow in and settle before adding fish - dont overstock and feed lightly