Anybody Used This Substrate?

[markandhisfish]

http/www.warehouse...tre-p-6082.html

any good?

or this 1 ?

http/www.plantedtanks.co.uk/dupla-ground-1645-p.asp

 

[JoshuaA]

I have the Nutrasoil on one of my tanks, I would advise not getting it.

Firstly it leaches ammonia for a few weeks
Secondly it is a pain in the donkey to plant anything in
Thirdly it doesn seem to be more buoyant than a balloon at times lol.
Edit: Fourthly root can't get much of a strong grip unlike gravel or sand it can take a tiny knock from a fish and it will dislodge

On a plus side, things do grow well in it.

 

[markandhisfish]

right thats nutrasoil off the list then . any reccomendations ? preferably not an arm and a leg job either

 

[jacko32]

i just use API pure laterite mixed with sand then 1/2" layer of sand over the top ive had excellent plant growth it is a bit more expensive though

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220428145264&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_533wt_1139

 

[markandhisfish]

i was hoping to use something as the 1st layer capped with playsand but i was worried playsand might compact too much and not give ebough circulation through the substrate, hence looking at these alternatives. does it turn to mush tho? i remember using a clay based cubstrate under sand , and any time i put a plant in or took 1`out it turned the water to a big brown cloudy mess

 

[jacko32]

i was hoping to use something as the 1st layer capped with playsand but i was worried playsand might compact too much and not give ebough circulation through the substrate, hence looking at these alternatives. does it turn to mush tho? i remember using a clay based cubstrate under sand , and any time i put a plant in or took 1`out it turned the water to a big brown cloudy mess

playsand i found was horrible for plants i use black trilcot sand mixed with the laterite and my plants rooted very well im just in the middle of scaling down on my fish and tanks and moving over fully to the planted side of things for a new challenge i must have spent hours over the last 3 weeks searching through all the substrates for planted set ups keep ending up back at the laterite though

never had any clouding i rinsed it before to get the dust out but it doesnt turn to mush anyway it just stays in the granuals

 

[markandhisfish]

lol tell me about it! its a bit of a minefield isnt it . i quite like the looks of that dupla ground in the 2nd link . ive suddenly become really hung up on circulation through the substrate .

 

[jacko32]

lol tell me about it! its a bit of a minefield isnt it . i quite like the looks of that dupla ground in the 2nd link . ive suddenly become really hung up on circulation through the substrate .

i just use MTS in my to irrigate the substrate from what i can gather from things i have read the stream beds where plants grow are quit compressed laterite anyway have you looked at the practical fish keeping website in the your tanks section it usually tells you what substrate they've used in there scapes

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/browse.php?type=subsection&subsection=32

 

[markandhisfish]

cool . il have a read through. everything else ive got prety much more or less nailed down , its the substrate choice thats giving me headaches. ideally id like a nice natura; looking substrate , but i want something thats not going to make a horrible mess .

 

[jacko32]

cool . il have a read through. everything else ive got prety much more or less nailed down , its the substrate choice thats giving me headaches. ideally id like a nice natura; looking substrate , but i want something thats not going to make a horrible mess .

by the time ive finished you wont be able to see it anyway just waiting on some glass lily pipes from malaysia cant stretch to the ones on green machine nearly £100 just for the inlet

 

[markandhisfish]

greenmachines prices are ridiculous imo.

 

[jacko32]

greenmachines prices are ridiculous imo.

couldnt find anywhere else in the uk that sold lily pipes though aqua essentials sell them in sets but i need 2 different sizes

 

[jacko32]

the ADA aquasoils seem to be used alot buy the accomplished aquascapers quite expensive at £35-£45 for 9lts im guessing the saying you get what you pay for is starting to come into play i might push the boat out and give that a shot

 

[markandhisfish]

with further research on the ada aquasoil it turns out it leeches ammonia like crazy for the 1st couple of weeks as well .

 

[jacko32]

with further research on the ada aquasoil it turns out it leeches ammonia like crazy for the 1st couple of weeks as well .

yeah read a couple of articles from experienced planters on the aquasoil and thats not a bad thing for me really as im not adding fish for a good while according to what ive read the first couple of weeks it spikes so thats when you plant and the plants get established really well im looking to plant quite dense aswell so that should take care of the ammonia