New Way To Mix Laterite/ Fluorite?

[Alps]

Would you guys recommend mixing laterite or fluorite with sand, then covering the mixture with just a little bit of round small gravel? If so, should I use more sand (mixed) than gravel (on top) or visa versa? ( spell that right?) Thanks for the input.

- by the way, its a 10g tank

 

[zig]

The sand will sink to the bottom eventually, using the flourite on its own would be better or use the laterite mixed with a small sized gravel.

 

[bogwood]

I mixed a box of Laterite granules with an inch or so of 2-3mm natural/pea gravel as my substrate base layer... with another inch of just the gravel over that... then finally, an inch or so of silica sand as my 'top' layer (total substrate depth approx 3 inches). The 'layering' meant I got minimal Laterite 'leakage' into the water and the small gravel gave a good 'rooting/holding' base for real plants. Don't wash the Laterite too much (you'll never get it to run crystal clear anyway). The sand does mix down eventually with some of the gravel... after 3 months, I only have a light scattering of the gravel showing - caused by the Corys rooting about - but it looks quite natural... my lfs uses Red Sea flourite(?) in their show tank... it looks nice but was told it breaks down eventually into a 'mush' that needs changing... its not cheap either!

 

[Alps]

I mixed a box of Laterite granules with an inch or so of 2-3mm natural/pea gravel as my substrate base layer... with another inch of just the gravel over that... then finally, an inch or so of silica sand as my 'top' layer (total substrate depth approx 3 inches). The 'layering' meant I got minimal Laterite 'leakage' into the water and the small gravel gave a good 'rooting/holding' base for real plants. Don't wash the Laterite too much (you'll never get it to run crystal clear anyway). The sand does mix down eventually with some of the gravel... after 3 months, I only have a light scattering of the gravel showing - caused by the Corys rooting about - but it looks quite natural... my lfs uses Red Sea flourite(?) in their show tank... it looks nice but was told it breaks down eventually into a 'mush' that needs changing... its not cheap either!

would it work if i mixed the sand with the laterite, then put the pea gravel lightly on top?
- would it be ok with the corys?

 

[Alps]

anyone?