Tropica Substrate

Silverlady

Fishaholic
Joined
Sep 5, 2005
Messages
560
Reaction score
0
Location
Southampton UK
I was just wondering what anyone thought of Tropica Aquacare substrate. I was going to buy a tub of the Tetra stuff ,but was advised at the Lfs to use the Tropica one.Does anyone on here use it. and is it any good.
 
I suspect it would be very good. Tropica are one of the highest respected names in this hobby.

Did you ask why your LFS recommended it over the Tetra product? Did they have experience of either?
 
Thanks George,i asked him if they had the Tetra in stock, because i have used it in my new 50 Gallon tank, and am very happy with the results,plants growing well etc.
They sell Tropica plants so i assumed that was why the substrate was in stock. he just said it was better then the Tetra. well i bought a bag so i guess i can compare them soon.
 
It was more expensive then the Tetra .
Tetra was £18 for 5 kilos
Tropica £13 for 2.50 kilos

When i set the tank up i will post any differences i note. Bit gutted at the moment as the tank has had Ich for five weeks , and i just can't get rid of it ,and all my lovely fish are suffering and dieing one by one, so i have decided to strip the tank and start again.
 
Well i have spent all morning striping the tank, and have replaced new gravel with the Tropica stuff underneath.
The tank is now has bits of moss floating in the water, also a greasy film at the top of the water,hope it clears soon . I hope it settles after i plant it .Plants are in quarantine for a while because of the Ich .
So far
TETRA 100%
TROPICA 10%. :unsure:
 
Interesting on the floating film and moss. I assume you covered the Tropica substrate with plain gravel? Did you do it carefully to avoid too much disturbance of the Tropica stuff?

The tank is clearing now.Taking most of the day though.
What filter do you have and what size tank is it?
 
It is composed of sandy looking Clay and Sphagnum moss according to the packet. the floating pieces are quite small and look like Peat compost.
There was also a 4 inch long piece of wood, this had Varnish on one side,not sure why that was doing in there.Obviously not a very control system on the product line.
Yes i put the Tropica in then placed wet gravel on top. After i filled the tank with water, i replaced the Bogwood ,and noticed where i had pressed it into the gravel in one spot, the Tropica was showing through but as it was wet by then wasn't flying around the tank but stayed in place.
Just have to see what happens when i plant it up.


My lovely Filter is an Eheim 2213,for a 50 Gallon tank! My tank is a Hagen Deep Duo 800, about 30 UK Gallons.
 
It is composed of sandy looking Clay and Sphagnum moss according to the packet. the floating pieces are quite small and look like Peat compost.
There was also a 4 inch long piece of wood, this had Varnish on one side,not sure why that was doing in there.Obviously not a very control system on the product line.
Yes i put the Tropica in then placed wet gravel on top. After i filled the tank with water, i replaced the Bogwood ,and noticed where i had pressed it into the gravel in one spot, the Tropica was showing through but as it was wet by then wasn't flying around the tank but stayed in place.
Just have to see what happens when i plant it up.

This sounds very much like the cactus compost I've put in my tank this morning. Every time I plant something, pits of moss and wood come flying up to the surface! Feeling a bit dis-concerted at the moment, as the tank looks very cloudy, with bits of compost stuff lying on the surface! I'm leaving planting more plants until the tanks cleared a little, and hopefully the compost will be a bit more sodden. I've a layer of onyx sand (flourite sand) over the top. I'm wary of losing the sand into the compost at the moment :-(

Silverlady, did you feel the tetra stuff was easier to work with? If you bared the gravel back, did the tetra stuff try running away like the stuff you have now?
 
The Tetra Substrate was heavy more like very small pieces of Gravel,and it stayed in place when i planted the tank.
I will probably plant the Tropica tank tomorrow if i have time. I think now that it has soaked some of the water up it shouldn't be to mucky to use.
 
Thanks for the reply. I may get some of the tetra (the cactus compost was an experiment £4/10 litres) as I only need to look at the tank for the compost to erupt!
 
Thanks for the reply. I may get some of the tetra (the cactus compost was an experiment £4/10 litres) as I only need to look at the tank for the compost to erupt!
Was the Cactus Compost Soil or peat based.My guess is Peat from what you said.
 
Thanks for the reply. I may get some of the tetra (the cactus compost was an experiment £4/10 litres) as I only need to look at the tank for the compost to erupt!
Was the Cactus Compost Soil or peat based.My guess is Peat from what you said.

Your guess is correct. The situation is not so bad now, and I've put a few more plants in, without too much drama. I still think a move to tetra plant is on the cards, as I still feel underwhelmed with what I have achieved. :/
 

Most reactions

Back
Top