Living Soil

Aquarium and fully submerged plants

Rooted aquarium plants, general: substrate and planted tank guide

Rooted aquarium plants, general is in Living Soil's Aquarium and fully submerged plants group. Plants growing entirely underwater in a tank: a thin layer of soil under a gravel cap, which is a different job from a pond basket. Its guide gathers what published references say about soil pH, water pH, water hardness, temperature, light, carbon dioxide, planting bed, feeding, spotting problems, cautions, mixes and where the sources differ, with 8 mixes that suit it.

What the rooted aquarium plants, general guide covers

Every item carries the reference behind it. Where references disagree, the guide shows both.

  • Soil pH1
  • Water pH2
  • Water hardness2
  • Temperature2
  • Light5
  • Carbon dioxide2
  • Planting bed9
  • Feeding12
  • Spotting problems16
  • Cautions10
  • Mixes6
  • Where the sources differ14

The count is how many sourced items each part of the guide holds.

Substrates that suit rooted aquarium plants, general

Aquarium soil layer for hard water

A published, referenced method for a soil bed under a planted tank. Once it is set up, the tank's fish keep the plants fed, and this version suits hard water best.

Aquarium soil layer for soft water

A published method for a soil bed under submerged plants, and it may well be the better pick for soft water. Once it is set up, the fish do the feeding.

6 mixes are made just for rooted aquarium plants, general, inside its guide.

Feeds made for it

Magnesium top up for planted tanks

A simple way to top up magnesium in planted tanks, most useful where the water is soft. It includes the caution that too much locks out potassium.

Laterite additive for planted tanks

A grower favorite that releases iron and other nourishment slowly, right where fine roots grow. Suits Amazon swords and cryptocorynes. Growers disagree on it, and the app shows both sides.

Cautious liquid feed for planted tanks

A careful liquid feeding approach growers use in planted tanks. Keep an eye on plants and algae after every dose, because overfeeding brings an algae bloom.

Liquid feed plan for gravel tanks

A regular liquid feeding plan growers use for low light tanks, and for plain bottomed tanks given extra carbon dioxide. Its lesson: overfeeding does more harm than underfeeding.

Fertilizer sticks in an aquarium bed

How some growers use ordinary feed sticks under aquarium plants, with great care. Sources disagree on whether to use them at all, and the app shows both sides.

Rich layer for planted tanks

A nutrient rich layer for under a planted tank. Tucked between other layers, it feeds the roots without clouding the water.

Root tablets for single aquarium plants

Feed single aquarium plants right at the roots. Best for quick growers, plants that crave iron like Amazon swords, and slow plants beside fast ones.

Soft water mix for planted tanks

How to prepare water for soft water planted tanks: fix the hardness and pH first, then fill the tank. The source prints no amounts, and the app says so.

Water change plan for planted tanks

A water change routine growers use to keep a planted tank topped up, since fresh tap water brings back the nutrients plants use up. Other sources change far less.

Potassium for soft water aquariums

Top up potassium, which soft water tanks run short of. Made for Amazon swords and other rooted plants, with a clear limit so you do not overdo it.

Lime for an acid aquarium soil layer

Sweetens an acidic garden soil before it goes under an aquarium, so the helpful soil bacteria do better and the water clears sooner. A grower's report from one soil only.

Each mix comes with the reference behind every figure, measured for your batch, pots or bed.

Good to know

  • pH: the references give 6.6 to 6.6 for aquarium and fully submerged plants in general. The rooted aquarium plants, general guide adds its own pH notes.
  • The mistake to avoid: Pushing houseplant fertilizer sticks or water lily tablets into the soil under submerged plants. Bacteria turn their sulfate into hydrogen sulfide, which can kill plant roots.
  • Also known as: rooted aquarium plant, aquarium substrate, planted tank soil, dirted tank, soil underlayer, low tech tank, aquarium soil mix, planted tank substrate, laterite, aquarium gravel, heating cable, root tabs, aquarium fertilizer, planted tank ph, aquarium co2 and aquarium lighting hours

Questions

What is the best substrate for rooted aquarium plants, general?

Living Soil lists 8 mixes that suit rooted aquarium plants, general, each from a published reference. They include Aquarium soil layer for hard water and Aquarium soil layer for soft water. 6 are made just for it. The app measures any of them for your batch, pots or bed.

What pH does rooted aquarium plants, general need?

The references give pH 6.6 to 6.6 for aquarium and fully submerged plants in general. The rooted aquarium plants, general guide adds its own pH notes.

Is the rooted aquarium plants, general guide free?

Its overview is free: what the guide covers and which mixes suit it. Opening the full guide takes credits, and the app shows the price before you confirm. Credits never expire.

Grow rooted aquarium plants, general on the right substrate.

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