Loaches Online Forum

I would like some opinions and suggestions on a idea.

I want to use Eco-complete for plants, but I would also like to use black sand. I have heard that after awhile the gravel will work its way up to the top or sand will work its way down.

So, I am putting a 1 1/2" or so layer of Eco-complete and then a some plastic craft sheets with small 1/8" squares over the Eco-complete. Next, I am going to put 1 1/2" to 2" layer of Tahitian Moon black sand.

Do you think this will keep the gravel from going to the surface and still let the plants grow roots well?

I think it'll be hard to plant with the mesh in there & very hard to move plants. My Eco has quite a lot of fine sand like bits & some rounded small gravel, sids & striata are ok on it & can dig down a bit if a live worm tries to escape.

You could try to sift out the larger pieces of gravel from the Eco Compete. That's what I'll be trying to do in my planted tank soon. Hopefully it works.

No, it won't work with the sheets in there. Just go with the EC. If any gravel pieces get up where you see them push them back down or remove them. Or sift them out when you set up the tank.

Skip the sand, the EC is a nice looking black substrate by itself.

Thank you, everyone, for your comments and suggestions. I did not use them. Just another of my bad ideas.

Hi bookpage,

I am looking for such sheets, only thing I found around here was drip/roor rail covers (prevents pluging due to leaves), but they are expensive and the hole size is to big too.
What product group are yours? I'd like to form a stable pipe from it. Pipes with such holes would be great or even better. If i found sheets with some stiffness I'd be happy enough.

wasserscheu, this is what I tried to use:

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/needlework/p ... as-sheets/

How many sheets do you need?

Thanks for the link and info. I am stil planing and don't know yet for sure what way my new plant pots will turn out. Currently I am working with a mix of certain fert.-sticks for normal pot plants and liquid fert's as well as clay. During some experiments, I have divided liquid from solid via filter-cotton. The plant roots go through, and fine sand is held back from leaking through.

Let me know what you need and I will try and get it for you. Can mail USPS Priority to you.