Substrate help

Kibblemania1414 · 02-13-2011, 12:58 PM

all the time.. and thanks Hilde, i will probably get them there. because when i went to my LFS, they were $12! rip off

Hilde · 02-13-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenche

wth...since when did lnt sell fish stuffs?

Don't know and don't care. Found this when I was googling for Brightwell aquatic products. For the LFS that caries the products is 20 miles from me and I didn't want to waste gas going up there.

OverStocked · 02-13-2011, 05:58 PM

There is no good reason to use three layers, and expecting them to stay in 3 seperate layers is just asking for a letdown. Sand will settle down.

Kibblemania1414 · 02-13-2011, 09:50 PM

thanks! any other anything would be appreciated

Hilde · 02-14-2011, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by over_stocked

There is no good reason to use three layers, and expecting them to stay in 3 seperate layers is just asking for a letdown. Sand will settle down.

I have 4 layers-
1st layer Laterite
2nd layer Reptile coconut bark
3rd layer top soil with potassium sulfate and calcium sulfate
4th layer river sand
Laterite provides iron, reptile bark provides Co2. Tap water has no minerals so I added minerals.

Kibblemania1414 · 02-14-2011, 12:03 PM

Ok thanks! Do you know a good white sand that has plant nutrients? Jw, that would go well with my white sand i have now.

Hilde · 02-14-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kibblemania1414

Ok thanks! Do you know a good white sand that has plant nutrients? Jw, that would go well with my white sand i have now.

All white sand is free of nutrients. I have seen pure white sand at Pet Smart. Cheapest good sand is pool filter sand from Lowe's. Could also try pool supply company's.

Kibblemania1414 · 02-14-2011, 10:38 PM

but you can buy like fluorite in white sand, right?

Hilde · 02-14-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kibblemania1414

but you can buy like fluorite in white sand, right?

No!! It comes in black. Don't believe it has a lot of nutrients though.

Kibblemania1414 · 02-14-2011, 11:08 PM

oh. do you know a good way to start a 10 gallon planted. substrate wise?

Hilde · 02-15-2011, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kibblemania1414

oh. do you know a good way to start a 10 gallon planted. substrate wise?

Eco-compete 20lb will give 1.5 in substrate. Petco has sales on it occasionally. Cheapest is to get Scott's top soil and Miracle grow cactus soil. Mix 3 parts top soil to 1 part cactus soil. Then top with river sand or pool filter sand (PFS). I prefer the river sand for it never looks dirty contrary to the PFS. Tank I saw where it looked white was vacuummed 3xs a week. I only vacuum my tank 1x a month so it got nasty.

Kibblemania1414 · 02-15-2011, 08:20 PM

ok, so just get some "Scotts top soil and miracle grow cactus soil and mix 3 parts top soil and 1 part cactus soil? OK i got that down. just were can i get this stuff? online? or can i get it at a lowes?

**zenche** · 02-15-2011, 08:33 PM

^ lowes or home depot should have all that.

others have also mentioned organic miracle gro would serve well.

Kibblemania1414 · 02-15-2011, 08:37 PM

thanks! i will pick some up on my next trip there! any other suggestions for a 10 gallon planted? doesn't have to do with substrate.

Hilde · 02-16-2011, 03:43 AM

I got Scott's top soil at Wal-mart. Cactus soil from Home Depot.

02-13-2011, 12:58 PM	#31
Kibblemania1414 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naperville, illinios Posts: 745	all the time.. and thanks Hilde, i will probably get them there. because when i went to my LFS, they were $12! rip off __________________ Happy plantkeeping! check it out!!!! --> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=148862

02-13-2011, 09:50 PM	#34
Kibblemania1414 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naperville, illinios Posts: 745	thanks! any other anything would be appreciated __________________ Happy plantkeeping! check it out!!!! --> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=148862

02-14-2011, 12:03 PM	#36
Kibblemania1414 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naperville, illinios Posts: 745	Ok thanks! Do you know a good white sand that has plant nutrients? Jw, that would go well with my white sand i have now. __________________ Happy plantkeeping! check it out!!!! --> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=148862

02-14-2011, 10:38 PM	#38
Kibblemania1414 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naperville, illinios Posts: 745	but you can buy like fluorite in white sand, right? __________________ Happy plantkeeping! check it out!!!! --> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=148862

02-14-2011, 11:08 PM	#40
Kibblemania1414 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naperville, illinios Posts: 745	oh. do you know a good way to start a 10 gallon planted. substrate wise? __________________ Happy plantkeeping! check it out!!!! --> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=148862

02-13-2011, 05:58 PM	#33
OverStocked Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (76/94%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: SoDak Posts: 10,732	There is no good reason to use three layers, and expecting them to stay in 3 seperate layers is just asking for a letdown. Sand will settle down.

02-15-2011, 08:20 PM	#42
Kibblemania1414 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naperville, illinios Posts: 745	ok, so just get some "Scotts top soil and miracle grow cactus soil and mix 3 parts top soil and 1 part cactus soil? OK i got that down. just were can i get this stuff? online? or can i get it at a lowes? __________________ Happy plantkeeping! check it out!!!! --> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=148862

02-15-2011, 08:33 PM	#43
zenche Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 837	^ lowes or home depot should have all that. others have also mentioned organic miracle gro would serve well.

02-15-2011, 08:37 PM	#44
Kibblemania1414 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Naperville, illinios Posts: 745	thanks! i will pick some up on my next trip there! any other suggestions for a 10 gallon planted? doesn't have to do with substrate. __________________ Happy plantkeeping! check it out!!!! --> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=148862

02-16-2011, 03:43 AM	#45
Hilde Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mableton, GA Posts: 3,964	I got Scott's top soil at Wal-mart. Cactus soil from Home Depot.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode