Is Laterite Red I Mean Really Red?

[Duzzy]

Hi there,

where I was working away this week (in the Otways for those who know Australia) in a rain forest a cleared patch of land. I was pouring 5 cubic meters of concrete (we were buggered lol) but in between trucks I got talking to another bloke (who incidentally has fish) and he mentioned there was 8 different soil types so i had a wander over the job site and found some really red rich looking clay and wondered if it was laterite and how I tell and how do i prepare/use it?

I was thinking of going ADA Amazonia but was just curious if what I saw was laterite and how I identify it in future.

Regards Darren

 

[Wolfenrook]

There are quite a few red clays, what you could have been looking at might have just been soil with a very high content of red clay. Laterite however (at least the API First Layer laterite) is VERY red/orange and quite hard.

Ade

 

[Duzzy]

Thanks Ade,

they had quite a bit of rain so it was soft

Regards Darren

There are quite a few red clays, what you could have been looking at might have just been soil with a very high content of red clay. Laterite however (at least the API First Layer laterite) is VERY red/orange and quite hard.

Ade

 

[Renate]

Wow, you just found it outside!! Weather it fluorite or laterite is grate for planted tanks, for it contains iron. Are there little pebbles or is it just red sand?

At aquatic plant central I read someone brought sand in from a pond, can't remember whom, and recommended boiling it. First time he didn't boil he got bit by something in the sand. Also may need to sift it, in something like spaghetti bowl, to get unwanted particles out.

 

[Duzzy]

Hi Renate,

its like red clay rather than sand. And a work mate picked up a leach on the same site ended up in hospital that nite the little bugger left its head in and he bled for six hours and his leg looked like a tree!

Regards Darren

Wow, you just found it outside!! Weather it fluorite or laterite is grate for planted tanks, for it contains iron. Are there little pebbles or is it just red sand?

At aquatic plant central I read someone brought sand in from a pond, can't remember whom, and recommended boiling it. First time he didn't boil he got bit by something in the sand. Also may need to sift it, in something like spaghetti bowl, to get unwanted particles out.

 

[Renate]

Hi Renate,

its like red clay rather than sand. And a work mate picked up a leach on the same site ended up in hospital that nite the little bugger left its head in and he bled for six hours and his leg looked like a tree!

Regards Darren

Wow, you just found it outside!! Weather it fluorite or laterite is grate for planted tanks, for it contains iron. Are there little pebbles or is it just red sand?

At aquatic plant central I read someone brought sand in from a pond, can't remember whom, and recommended boiling it. First time he didn't boil he got bit by something in the sand. Also may need to sift it, in something like spaghetti bowl, to get unwanted particles out.

.

So sorry to hear that!!

Sounds like it be dangerous to pick it up in that site. It is not fluorite. Forgot to say he put the sand in buckets and put bowling water over it.

 

[Duzzy]

Ranate,

to be honest I think I am set on ADA amazonia but thought it best to explore all possibilities/options

Regards Darren