Substrate Question

[Tongue_Flicker]

I know they're okay for plants but is laterite safe to use as substrate for fish? Just wondering

 

[Ninjouzata]

Think I've heard of using that in planted tanks so would assume it's fine for fish? I don't know what it is though or if there's different kinds that I may have heard about :c
 
Just wanted to get some sort of answer to ya til someone with more experience with that particular substrate comes along.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

There's not much info about them getting used for something else other than for land and aquatic plants. I was just worried about the iron oxides would be harmful but from what i read it seems pretty organic and safe. I got the lateritic soil type i think, apparently they're commonly found here than it is in the US/UK area

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Laterite is added to other substrate in the bottom layer. I have used it for years. Used as intended it is a good inexpensive way to help a planted tank. It is not intended to be a complete stand alone substrate. In the states a 55 ounce box is about $12. You would need an awful lot of these boxes. Cheap gravel or sand would probably run $12 for an entire tank. If one is not doing live plants, there is no reason to choose laterite as a substrate.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

The laterite soils are actually much cheaper here. A typical kilo of sand costs around $2 here but the laterite soil are only half a dollar for a kilo. It looks nice underwater now than last night when it was still murky lol.. i was planning to grow some bacopa on it and put a new betta in case my old betta dies on me anytime soon