Substrate for plants and axolotls?

[firereptile]

Hello, I'm setting up a new tank for my juvenile axolotls and I was hoping to keep some basic plants with them as well.
What substrate do people use that works for east plants but is not dangerous to axolotls.
Thanks,

 

[Bette]

Sand is the safest substrate, but you should hold off using it until your juveniles are close to mature. Otherwise, it could cause impaction.
Until then, you could get some anubias, moss balls, or a floating plant like duckweed, salvinia or frogbit. Anubias can be attached to anything, and do well in low light. In fact, duckweed and moss balls also do well in low light.

 

[firereptile]

Are there any exact brands of sand you would recommend?

 

[Bette]

Are there any exact brands of sand you would recommend?

The cheapest and most natural looking is plain fine grain pool filter sand which is obtainable from your local pool supply store.

 

[LSuzuki]

I planted a cryptocoryne in a very small clay flower pot with soil topped with sand and just set it in the tank. It seems to be working well. I am about to do a couple more flower pots with more cryptocorynes and some anubias.

 

[sde]

Plain play sand that you get at a hardware store is very cheap, safe, and looks pretty natural as well - you can get a 50 lb bag at Home Depot for under $5.

 

[layna]

Childrens play sand is cheaper than pool filter sand and is safe.
Whichever sand you chose to get make sure you rinse and rinse and rinse and even then your tank may remain cloudy for a few days until it settles.
I bought little tank safe plastic pots and i put my plants in there, i fill around the edges with pebbles and cover with sand to stop the axies getting the pebbles.

If you want to plant plants under the sand you can buy little plastic anchors that you put around the roots and bury under the sand but whatever you do, axies tend to dig them up so be prepared to keep replanting!

Another option is to buy driftwood/ornaments ect and tie your plants to them with fishing wire.
Or just buy plastic or silk plants