I have an extra 50# bag of Soilmaster substrate (charcoal flavored). It's enough for 3-4" depth in a 75 gallon tank. If you're in Staten Island and want to save a trip to Lesko in Jersey, you can have it for what I paid for it -- $10 -- or better yet a few plants.

Mike

Make an outside lily pond in a small barrel etc if not
Or make that 20 gallon non CO2 planted tank.

Regards,
Tom Barr

With such a big investment in substrate, I really had no choice but to buy a used tank at a yard sale (36 hex with pine stand, heater, working filter, crappy 18w light, nets, rocks, and more for $35) and start a second tank. So problem solved. Best of all, my wife the yard sale fanatic bought the set up for me so she can't complain about the 2d tank.

You are truly a wise man
Take care of the spouse first, then get the other tank

That's my approach

Regards,
Tom Barr