What To Do With Kitty Litter

[lock77]

Could someone explain to me the ins and outs of using kitty litter as a substrate.

Please and thank you!

 

[NathanPrince]

Put some in a bucket or bowl, run water into it and stir it around until the water runs clear then put it into your tank like any other substrate. Did this on 3 of my tanks now and had 0 problems and it looks great!

Which cat litter did you go for out of interest?

 

[lock77]

Haven't got it yet, have read on here about tesco brand kitty litter but any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hopefully get started tomorrow, would it be ok to layer my sand on top of the litter and how deep should the litter be?

I'm using silica sand.

 

[NathanPrince]

Tescos is usually the one to go for, I used Sophisticat Pink on recommendation from a user on here takes a lot of cleaning but it works just the same.

I have capped mine with sand and in my heavily planted tank I used about 3" in the front sloped to about 5" at the back and a whole bag of playsand in my Rio 125. It falls through the cat litter but eventually it will start to sit on top, go careful when filling the tank and use a plate or similar ontop the sand or you'll disturb it too much and the cat litter ends up on the top again lol.


Have fun!

 

[lock77]

Tescos is usually the one to go for, I used Sophisticat Pink on recommendation from a user on here takes a lot of cleaning but it works just the same.

I have capped mine with sand and in my heavily planted tank I used about 3" in the front sloped to about 5" at the back and a whole bag of playsand in my Rio 125. It falls through the cat litter but eventually it will start to sit on top, go careful when filling the tank and use a plate or similar ontop the sand or you'll disturb it too much and the cat litter ends up on the top again lol.


Have fun!

Thanks for all that, fingers crossed!

 

[NathanPrince]

No problems, remember to post pictures up when your done

 

[lock77]

Started yesterday around 4pm didn't get finished til 2am this morning. Went to bed feeling chuffed woke up this morning and the little F*****S had dug the whole show up. My substrate now looks like the top of a cup of cappuccino.

Anyway of fixing this without starting again?

 

[NathanPrince]

Ouch doesn't sound good. I don't have any diggers so not really had that problem myself, could you try pushing the cat littler back under the sand with your finger or something?

 

[lock77]

Left it for a while, was trying to kid myself into thinking it was more natural looking that way. Started over again this afternoon, forgot the sand and just used litter. I think it looks nice, the wife disagrees.

 

[tribalbrit]

Kitty litter looks nice on its own IMO. Stem plants are a pain in the **** to get rooted though if you have any large diggers. I find Amazons and crypts root ok.

 

[lock77]

My LFS doesn't do much in the line of plants. Debating if I should order some off ebay.
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30-FISH-TANK-PLANTS-LIVE-AQUARIUM-AQUATIC-TROPICAL-/200655807074?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2eb804a262

 

[stu40]

Do you have shrimp? My link
If so, their disclaimer in red before the plant list in green, would make me nervous