PLANTED TANK WITHOUT SUBSTRATE

In today’s video, we’re diving into an unconventional topic: setting up a planted aquarium without using any substrate.



If you’re here wondering whether this might be clickbait—rest assured, it’s not. I’ve been creating and maintaining substrate-free planted tanks for over four years, and the tanks you see in the video are examples of this approach. While it may seem unusual, this method is not new. Many seasoned aquascapers have been practicing this for years; I’m simply following in their footsteps.



Why Set Up a Planted Tank Without Substrate?



You might be thinking: Plants and substrate go hand in hand, right? While that’s typically true, there are some practical reasons to skip the substrate:

1. Ease of Maintenance

Substrate can complicate tank maintenance. Uprooting plants or rescaping a tank with substrate often creates a mess. Without substrate, these tasks become much simpler and cleaner.

2. Cost Savings

High-quality substrates, such as ADA Amazonia or Fluval Stratum, can be expensive. For instance, filling a 50-gallon tank with ADA substrate requires a significant investment. By skipping the substrate, you eliminate this initial cost.



Of course, there’s a trade-off: a substrate-free tank limits your choice of plants. However, this limitation can be overcome by focusing on plants that naturally thrive without substrate.



Plants That Thrive Without Substrate



In my aquascapes, I use epiphyte and rheophyte plants, which don’t require a substrate to grow. These plants naturally attach to rocks, crevices, or driftwood in their natural habitats, such as rivers or streams.



Examples of epiphyte plants include:

• Java moss

• Java fern (including trident varieties)

• Bolbitis fern

• Anubias species (such as Anubias barteri and Anubias coffeefolia)

• Bucephalandra varieties



These plants can be easily attached to rocks or driftwood in the aquarium, creating a beautiful and functional aquascape without the need for substrate.



My Current Tank Setup



In my current tank, I’ve used:

• Two types of Bolbitis ferns

• Trident Java fern

• Anubias coffeefolia

• Various Bucephalandra species

• Java moss



I’ve carefully wedged the plants into gaps in rocks and driftwood. While the bare tank may look slightly artificial at first, the plants will eventually grow in and create a natural aesthetic.



Once the tank is established—typically after 2–4 weeks—I’ll add a thin layer of sand to enhance its visual appeal. Why wait? During the initial stages, the tank often experiences a diatom outbreak (a type of algae fueled by silicates). Sand can introduce additional silicates, potentially worsening the diatom problem. Adding sand later helps minimize this issue.



Limitations and Considerations



This method isn’t about comparing substrate-free tanks with traditional ones or claiming one is better. It’s simply an alternative approach that you might find intriguing. However, there are some limitations:

• Since the plants don’t have substrate to draw nutrients from, I must dose fertilizers into the water column and inject pressurized CO2 to meet their nutritional needs.



You might wonder if adding substrate could benefit epiphyte plants. While their rhizomes must remain above the substrate, their roots can grow into it, accessing additional nutrients. However, in my experience, regular fertilization and CO2 injection are sufficient for their growth.



Final Thoughts



I’ve been using this substrate-free method since 2020 and have successfully created several beautiful planted tanks following this principle. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, cost-effective, and creative approach to aquascaping, this might be worth a try!



Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your perspective and experiences. Until next time, take care and happy aquascaping!



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Planted tank playlist : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM6nii_VW5RGjc7Ap81n92NQYrKO2-vY8


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