Sand depth?

Lucille

Am setting up 5 gallon betta tanks and want to have real plants. For that size aquarium how deep should the substrate be?

MinaMinaMina

It depends on the plants. Some have an extensive/deep root system, some not. I stay around 2" for spots that are unplanted or for spots that have plants that don't need lots of depth for roots. I'd def stay below 3" unless you have a specific plant that needs more root room (like a sword), but then I'd say no more than 4" in that spot.

Are you considering getting MTS or raking the sand in unplanted areas periodically?

Lucille

I am getting mystery snails.

MinaMinaMina

Since Mystery Snails don't burrow much, I would keep the sand depth low and run a chopstick through the unplanted areas periodically.

Byron

I agree. In this small a tank you will not have plants with extensive root systems so a sand depth no greater than 2 inches, and probably better with 1 inch at the front to 1.5 inches at the back. And see if you can get a couple Malaysian Livebearing snails, they are incredible with sand substrate.

Lucille

Byron, I do not know if they are one and the same but I got some MTS snails recently. They sound like good snails to have. After I got them, I saw where some people buy Assassin snails to eat the MTS snails, that confused me.

Byron

Probably the same. Malaysian Livebearing or Trumpet snails. They will reproduce according to the available food (waste). I have hundreds in my tanks. Terrific little workers. I have never seen reason to limit their numbers; if the waste wasn't there, neither would the snails be.