How Long Does Jbl Last?

coldcazzie

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The only thing I can find online suggests its good for 3 years, is that right?

Trying to work out whether I should transfer it when I break the tank down, or replace with something else?
 
We were having a convo about Aquabasis today, as it dose leech into the column it doesn't last as long as once expected, also plant mass makes a big difference to how long it lasts. At best, it'll do about 6 months, then you have to buy the JBL ball things to 're charge' the substrate. Now IMO these are more like root tabs than 're chargers'.
 
so I'd do better to replace it or "recharge" it with some form of tabs/clay jobbies than just transfer it straight over?
 
if you got on with it, as most people do. IMO is a great under substrate, for the price, you might as well buy some fresh if you're starting a new scape.
 
hmm... I dunno. I don't really have anything to compare it to. It's the first plant substrate I've tried, so I don't know whether its made a difference or not! I'm really tempted to give something else a go, I just don't know what. All I do know is that I really dislike the look of the stand alone substrates.
 
it all goes on how much you want to spend really, because you can start looking at the ADA substrates (these are expensive, but very good). They have a substrate called Power sand, some will say, it's a complete waste of money, again talking about this substrate as well this morning, and certain aquascapers have had great results with it.

Personally i like the soils, they do a great job, however i have never had any problems with aquabasis+.
 
I don't doubt that they are effective :) I'll be more specific, I really don't like the way florabase looks! :lol: I can't see flourite being any different, even their "sand" has a grain size of 3mm.

I have proposed a change to black sand from the play sand, man-wife is amenable to this, so I'm wanting to not spend too much if possible cuz that won't be cheap. I'd be tempted by cat litter except I'd like to be able to shape it and I don't get the impression cat litter will do that very well.

Think I know the answer to this, but could I use John Innes compost?

Also, have you ever used laterite?
 
I have some under the present substrate, and again, it works. They sell it in MA at the moment. You could use aquabasis and laterite and cap it with whatever you want.
 
Now i have started to dose my 35 litre tank with excel and tpn+ i was wondering whether or not i should swap the substrate for some planted stuff as it would be pretty cheap to do with it only being small. Would this be of benefit or not? It's not heavily planted, but moderately planted i would say. Plan on adding some stems soon just to add a different dimension.

Also, if using something like this would it not take on the ferts that are dosed which in theory should make it last longer? :blush:
 
So I could buy some laterite and mix with what I've got? Then cap with sand?

Again, could I use mud?
 
There has been a few members on here that have use soil. John innes number 3 compost I believe?
 
yes, I plan to use it for the biotope, it was more a question of could it be used for a high tec tank rather than a Walstad style tank.
 

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