Probably A Really Stupid Question.

[Fighterfish]

Hi,
Well for the bottom of my planted tank i want this substrate.
http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php/...products_id/575
Does this need added fertiliser and can it be the top level or not.
Also I gnoring that, what colour substrate do you think i shloud have. Balck sand, the above one or quartz sand.
Thanks,
Lm

 

[lljdma06]

This is not a stupid question. Based on what I know of it, it is a nutrient-rich substrate and does not need added fertilisers. I have seen it in other tanks both topped and used alone. I have not used it personally, however. If you chose to cover it, substrate colour is a matter of taste. I'm used to substrates mixing, so I tend to pick substrates that will complement eachother if things get mixed up. It is entirely up to you, however.

llj

 

[nry]

As far as I know that stuff goes below sand/gravel?

I used this:

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php/...roducts_id/1208

as the substrate in my PFK cube (see the journals pinned topic for recent picture). It is dark but not black, more a mixed darker grey colour. Quite nice really.

What puts me off the ADA stuff like the one you link to is that it affects water chemistry. I've used JBL AquaBasis Plus below the sand in my PFK cube and my 15-gallon. Works well as far as I can tell from my plants, and is cheaper than the ADA stuff. I would be interested in trying the Tropica substrate in future tanks, again it goes below sand/gravel and has many favourable comments on here and elsewhere.

 

[Fighterfish]

Thanks for that. I am not to sure on whether to go for black or quartxz substrate. Please help me.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I have some of the linked product. This soil is a stand alone product. It is design to be used with ADA powersand, which is a volcanic pumiss like gravel coated in peat,and trace Ion mix and dormant nitrefieing bacteria. This is not neaded, bit of a product ploy, but very tempting. All you need to do is dust the base of the empty tank with a very thin layer of peat and then some mulm from a recantly cleaned filter sprinkled over that, and then the ADA aqua soil. Best value substrate you can get your hands on. You can dose liquid ferts to a minimum in a low light tank as the soil is very rich.
It has the apearance of normal pea gravel, but the Malay is very brown.

One word of warning, DO NOT add fish on day one. Please only add stock after 4 weeks of the tank being setup. There is alot of ammonia produced in the erly days with AS, so wait until it settles down.
Most fish will be perfectly fine in a tank with AS, just use your comoncence when adding your stock.

Graeme.