Actually no, I didn't want to take a 2 hour drive to get eggcrate or hydroton, so I just put the substrate in. For substrate It is kind of like ABG mix, and here it is. 1 part charcoal, 1 part Peat moss, and 2 parts tree fern fiber, and 1 part semi dried aspen leaves from backyard. I actually lightly planted it a few hours ago but am still waiting for the silicone to cure. I don't really need to let the silicone air out because it's acid base, and after 24 hours there will be almost no smell. I stil need more ficus pumila (walmart has baskets of about 100 feet total of ficus pumila for 10 bucks) and a few other plants i'll have to add too. It looks like a forest floor! I have tons of small plants in the bottom of the tank with a little of leaf litter, and that greatly represents the forest floor. I also have tons of broms on the background