Substrate Help

Hi. I have a empty rio 180. I am upgrading the lighting and filter. I want a fully planted community tank.
I want cories eventually so I know I need sand. Can someone recommend a soil substrate base.

There are so many options and varying reviews. I want one that will last as I don't want to upset fish once its running. I don't want to ask my local store as they will probably want to sell me the most expensive.

I will also need advice on plants. Ones where I don't need to sort co2, but will give fish hiding places.

I want plants established before I sort fish.
Ty for reading.

Firstly let me reply about substrate - this is a quicker post and I’ll reply later re plants when I have a bit more time…

My research on this (which I should probably admit was a few years ago now) led me to this product as it seemed “safe” given no nitrates etc and easy to use. I wouldn’t recommend neccessarily as thick a layer as it suggests - previously I have just sprinkled a few in the bottom of the tank and it’s worked just fine. But good on them for trying to recommend you but a bigger tub I suppose! You used to be able to buy it in smaller quantities than the link I’ve sent suggests too.

I’ll send plant info later

https://www.tetra.net/en-gb/products/tetra-completesubstrate

Ok plants…
Primarily you’ve got root feeding plants (which suit a soil substrate) and stem/rhizome plants (which take their nutrients more from the water column).

So your choices of plants may well influence how you wish to set up your tank.

Some easy stem plants:
Bacopa monnieri
Egeria densa
Hygrophila species (any)
Ludwigia palustris (hard to grow red)
Hornwort (ceratophyllum demersum)
Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

Some easy rhizome plants and mosses (should not be planted in the substrate):
Anubias species (any)
Bucephalandra species (any)
Java fem (Microsoft pteropus)
Bolbitis heudelotti
Java moss (taxiphyllum barbieri)
Mario moss balls (cladophora aegagrophila)

Some easy rosette and bulb plants (that SHOULD be planted!):
Crinum calamistratum
Crypt species (any)
Echinodorus species (e.g. Amazon swords)
Dwarf Sag (Sagittariua subulata)
Vallisneria (any)
Aponogetum capuroni

Fertilisation of the water column if you end up wanting to go this way, you don't want to increase nitrates so should use a micros only product that contains phosphorus also, something like JBLs Ferropol.

Hope that helps

Edit: Topica have a decent site and plant difficulty rating system
https://tropica.com/en/plants/

No you don’t need co2 provided you choose ‘easy’ plants.

Regarding test kits - you want one of the ones with liquid reagents rather than the test strips (whilst easier/quicker to use they simply arnt accurate/reliable). The one by API is probably the most popular.