Tree Fern needed in substrate?

[Gradderz]

So I'm getting along with my tank, background will be completed soon after which I'm gonna add substrate...
But I'm having some problems with the substrate mix, I have a ton of eco earth ready, have no problem getting fine orchid bark, peat is cheap, sphagnum moss is easy to obtain, charcoal and oak leaves too...but I've read that tree fern fibre is NEEDED in the substrate mix, but this is difficult to get and the sources are incredibly expensive, would end up costing me £16 for 4 litres of the stuff! Considering I'd need more than this to make up the 21 litres of substrate needed for my vivarium, would it be okay to save money, drop the tree fern and just go with the Eco Earth, Sphagnum, Orchid Bark, Charcoal, crushed oak leaves and Sphagnum Peat mix?
Or am I just looking into this far too much and making things more complicated than they are :P

[Fbt123]

Tbh u dont need it, but it adds additional nutrients to the substrate for the plants. What you're doing is fine as tree fern isnt necessary

[deranged chipmunk]

Tree fern fiber can be replaced with fir bark. It is used as a substrate for reptiles. Or you can leave it out.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Gradderz]

Tree fern fiber can be replaced with fir bark. It is used as a substrate for reptiles. Or you can leave it out.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

Could I just use Fir bark instead of orchid bark as well, so the mix would be eco earth, sphagnum peat, Fir bark, sphagnum Moss, charcoal and oak leaves? I've already bought so much stuff I haven't needed for this tank I don't want to throw any more money down the drain on things that aren't necessary!

[deranged chipmunk]

Well, then fir bark breaks down over time, feeding the plants. The orchid bark is for drainage. If you were to skip one, I would skip the fir bark. Drainage is more important.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Gradderz]

Well, then fir bark breaks down over time, feeding the plants. The orchid bark is for drainage. If you were to skip one, I would skip the fir bark. Drainage is more important.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

I think I'll go for both, the exo terra Fir bark seems cheap enough and I have a free source of orchid bark at home!

[deranged chipmunk]

There ya go!


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Tongue Flicker]

Is tree fern fiber the same as osmunda fiber? If so, then i'm lucky that it's really cheap here lol