Substrate

[dalethewhale]

Im thinking about changing changing my substrate soon as i think it's a little too large atm... not soon but eventually
I have a fair few plants so i was wondering what's the best way to go about substrate without buying specialised stuff?
I was thinking just about an inch of compost (my dad has a few bags for gardening) topped with either playsand pr gravel
Would that be ok? or could you suggest anything better? and is sand better than gravel?

Also i've heard of people using cat litter? whaaaaat?

Thanks

 

[raptorrex]

Im thinking about changing changing my substrate soon as i think it's a little too large atm... not soon but eventually
I have a fair few plants so i was wondering what's the best way to go about substrate without buying specialised stuff?
I was thinking just about an inch of compost (my dad has a few bags for gardening) topped with either playsand pr gravel
Would that be ok? or could you suggest anything better? and is sand better than gravel?

Also i've heard of people using cat litter? whaaaaat?

Thanks

it may be worth looking at Fullers earth (cat litter) as your base. its cheap and used by many to plant and conture their tank.

 

[StandbySetting]

Any standard clay cat litter that is pure and has had nothing added to it will do, many also use akadama which is popular with Bonsai growers.

 

[raptorrex]

Any standard clay cat litter that is pure and has had nothing added to it will do, many also use akadama which is popular with Bonsai growers.

lol,.yeah. fullers earth is clay cat litter. cant find another type

 

[dalethewhale]

So any clay cat litter with sand on top?

 

[StandbySetting]

Yes, as long as it has no perfumes etc added to it.

 

[dalethewhale]

ok cheers, i'll keep an eye out
Will it be roughly an inch of each?

 

[StandbySetting]

About a Centimetre of Clay and about 3-5 Centimetres of sand.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Take a look at this post

 

[StandbySetting]

In the above thread the poster is using baked cat litter, whether or not you get baked cat litter will depend on how you use it.

 

[dalethewhale]

In the above thread the poster is using baked cat litter, whether or not you get baked cat litter will depend on how you use it.

How do you mean?

 

[StandbySetting]

Some cat litter is baked, some is not, the baked stuff wont require capping, but will need rinsing, you can easily find whether it is baked or not by taking a small amount and putting it in water, if it goes sludgy then it isn't baked.

 

[dalethewhale]

Is baked as good for the plants though?

 

[StandbySetting]

I can't say for sure, but my guess is that the softer stuff that is not baked would be more absorbent, but in all honesty it wont make a scrap of difference as long as you dose the water column.

 

[dalethewhale]

I see, do you think it's worth it at all then? my tanks 180 litres, i only have low maintenance plants, i dose with easycarbo daily and plantamin weekly and have 2x36w flourescent tubes
I was just thinking what would be better for my plants rather than gust having sand

Thanks alot and sorry for all the questions! haha