Any experience with Substrate by AquariumPlants.com?

[Franzi]

I'll give some props to AP.com too. I use their substrate, ferts and bought plants from them. All I can say is that everything is growing out of control and the plants arrived in great shape.

The only crappy thing is that their liquid fertilizer has ZERO information about what's actually in the bottle, nor does it have any dosing instructions. Switching to EI next week will solve that problem...at least I got the cool bottle.

[thewesterngate]

Very quick question, since I'm also using AP. All debate aside, I know it needs to be rinsed, but also that the water will probably never run clear, and a little cloudiness never hurts because it clears in the long run inside the tank.

My question is, after it's rinsed, should I lay it out to dry all over again, or put it into the aquarium damp? It seems like it would defeat the purpose of washing it just to dry it out again. Thanks for any input. :]

[smp]

I rinsed mine once and put it into the tank wet. I filled the tank by laying a plate on the substrate and then a small bucket on top of that.

After filling, the water was a little cloudy. At the time I had 2 Penguin 350's on the back of the tank (90 gal).

Water was crystal clear in 2 days and has stayed that way since.

Plants are growing VERY WELL in their substrate.

It's a tad light and the fish uproot things every now and then, but I like the color (Natural Amazon) and the texture.

[thewesterngate]

Originally Posted by smp

I rinsed mine once and put it into the tank wet. I filled the tank by laying a plate on the substrate and then a small bucket on top of that.

After filling, the water was a little cloudy. At the time I had 2 Penguin 350's on the back of the tank (90 gal).

Water was crystal clear in 2 days and has stayed that way since.

Plants are growing VERY WELL in their substrate.

It's a tad light and the fish uproot things every now and then, but I like the color (Amazon Red) and the texture.

Thank you for the quick response! I just finished rinsing (as well as I can) one 5 gallon bucket and needed to know soon. :P

[smp]

Don't over rinse. I think twice is the max.

[bunnie1978]

Turface Pro League Grey is about $20 for I believe 25lbs. That's really cheap, and it's made out of Montmorillinite clay. High iron content. It's made out of the same stuff that Oil-Dri (auto section - $3.50 at walmart) but it's fired at a higher temperature so it's a darker color. And lasts longer. But Oil Dri is great, soft neutral colors, but it's high in silicates, which I suspect Turface or SMS is too. I don't know though. I've been using Oildri for about 3 months in 5 tanks.

[Diana]

I pour in Soil Master Select, dry, no rinsing, or else wet it in the bucket to avoid breathing the dust, but not rinse and dump the water.
Fill as per Steve: pour water in slowly over a plastic bag.
Very little clouding, just a faint haze that mostly clears by the next day, and is absolutely clear in 48 hours.

I have not had major problems with Diatoms (indicators of silica) in SMS tanks. (or in Turface tanks). Sure a little shows up here and there, but just as much in tanks with gravel or pool filter sand (known silica source). It never seems to linger, Mollies and many Loricariads eat it. Worst case I had was in a new glass tank using old coral sand as a substrate. But another new glass tank had almost none, using new EC and new SMS.

[Jlw]

"Has anybody used this substrate? Their website claims that it “outperforms ALL other planted substrates (guaranteed)”. Their website also claims that 5 gallon bucket of their substrate (sold at $64.99) will cover 4 sq ft at a depth of 3" (a 55 gallon aquarium measures 48" by 12" or 4 sq ft.), and that this is equivalent to 6 bags of "eco-complete”. They claim that Eco-complete takes 120 lbs (6 bags) to cover the same area, at a cost of over $180.00.

I have never used Eco-complete, but I heard it is pretty good, I do have used Flourite and works very well for me, additionally it looks pretty nice. I guess my only complaint would be that it is very light and therefore not very easy for planting (keeping new plants in place). Over all, I love Flourite, but I have to say it gets pretty expensive.

I am interested in any comments (not coming from the company that makes and/or sells it) regarding AquariumPlants.com’s substrate because it seems a little too good to be true that a product that “outperforms” all other substrates for planted tanks would be so much cheaper, I am pretty skeptical sometimes. But then again I wouldn’t want to miss it if this is true, all products deserve a chance and I certainly deserve to save the money LOL.

Even if it doesn’t “outperform” all others, but it is as good or comparatively as good as Flourite (or Eco-complete if you guys think is as good as fluorite, I just haven’t used it), it would be a pretty good deal at that price, and I would like to know about it.

I want to make VERY clear that I am not promoting ANY brand of substrate; I am just a hobbyist trying to find the best possible substrate at the best possible price (or at least the best possible deal for my money), and therefore seeking advice from fellow hobbyists. Please, if you work for the company that makes the substrate in question, don’t reply to me telling me that your product “does outperform all others” (I already read that in your website) or why... true or not, I’d like to hear the opinion of unbiased sources, people who has used it, fellow hobbyists. Thank you very much and I apologize for the lengthy post."


Do NOT buy this stuff, It is TOTAL CRAP. I bought 8 square feet for my 90 gallon and it doesnt grow anything, Seriously, Dont waste your money, Go with something else that is proven for you.

[VadimShevchuk]

I use eco complete in my tanks. Great to work with since it doesnt cloud and has a nice color/texture to it. Only thing i would change for it is amazonia 1. I also wanted to try oynx sand from seachem. looks nice but i dont know how it goes. Intresting comments on this topic. =D

[James77]

Originally Posted by Jlw

Do NOT buy this stuff, It is TOTAL CRAP. I bought 8 square feet for my 90 gallon and it doesnt grow anything, Seriously, Dont waste your money, Go with something else that is proven for you.

This is a pretty ridiculous statement. Many have had plenty of good results using AP substrate. People also have had great results from using Turface, which is pretty much what the AP.com substrate is.

Saying it does not grow anything is pretty vague. There are other factors which grow plants as well- lighting , fertilizer, CO2. Please explain your setup and what equipment you were using, as well as what was happening to your plants.

[alan j t]

that stuff is not crap,i use it with good results.

james ,nice to see people from RI here more often.
i was raised in RI for most of my life

[Jlw]

I gave the guy my opinion on the Substrate he asked about, Nothing wrong with that. im in the process of siphoning this junk out of the tank now. I have 4x65 compact lights, When I have more time, I will post more about my tank. Im in the process of putting ada aquasoil with sand capped with gravel and I will eventually put in a Co2 system, but even without the C02, I would bet that it will grow plants better than the AP stuff, I also tried putting Iron and Trace in the soil as directed and the plants still did not fourish, only died. I think its junk and thats my opinion, You're welcome to think whatever you want.

[gene4christ]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jlw
Do NOT buy this stuff, It is TOTAL CRAP. I bought 8 square feet for my 90 gallon and it doesnt grow anything, Seriously, Dont waste your money, Go with something else that is proven for you.

OK I am confused given light and a place to put there roots down plants will grow in just about anything granted they will do better and thrive in better soil but they live in even very poor soil if the other elements are there in right order light fert and water quality ?
Now that being said the better the soil the better the plants will do and they will live longer and look better for sure but to say that poor soil won't grow anything is a bit of a stretch should at least grow alga
Gene4Christ

[OverStocked]

Originally Posted by gene4christ

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jlw
Do NOT buy this stuff, It is TOTAL CRAP. I bought 8 square feet for my 90 gallon and it doesnt grow anything, Seriously, Dont waste your money, Go with something else that is proven for you.

OK I am confused given light and a place to put there roots down plants will grow in just about anything granted they will do better and thrive in better soil but they live in even very poor soil if the other elements or there in right order light fert and water quality ?
Now that being said the better the soil the better the plants will do and they will live longer and look better for sure but to say that poor soil won't grow anything is a bit of a stretch should at least grow alga
Gene4Christ

Basically it is overpriced, marked up Turface. They claim a nutrient level but I do not believe it for one second.