On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:36:37 -0500, Randy Webb wrote:

Right now, I am trying to find a good, cheap substrate to use in the
tank. I want something that the plants can actually root and grow in
that won't cost me a fortune to use. As it is now, about half of them
are simply floating in the tank because I can't make up my mind what
kind of substrate to use. Don't want to just keep trying things, them
failing, and having to start all over again.

A suggestion I've made before in this group is "tube sand" or "traction
sand". Comes in 60 pound bags for around $5.00. It's mostly small gravel
and/or coarse sand. I sift out the really small stuff (yes it's a lot of
work), wash the rest, and voila! substrate.

My plants grow great in it, but I do stick a fertilizer tablet under each
plant when planting. By the time that's gone, the fish will have created
enough fertilizer to carry on, although I do use Flourish once a week for
trace elements.

I've been using Flourish Excel in some tanks and not in others. After a
year or more, I can't tell any difference.