Cheap Substrate??

[UGA_Grad_Student]

Agreed I am so on the fence, but I am glad that I have 2 weeks to decide. I'm thinking now maybe the kitty litter I have heard people talk about covered by some gravel.

[UGA_Grad_Student]

If anyone finds this thread in searches, I just wanted to update what I went with. I decided to do the special kitty kitty litter covered by the black blasting sand. I have been completely happy with it so far. Haven't seen any adverse effects of die offs. Just make sure you rinse both the cat litter and the blasting sand over and over x 10.

[shift]

Does anyone know who sells the black beauty blasting sand in canada?

tractor supply seems to be a us chain

[bpb]

50# bag of turface pro league ($12)
80# earthgro topsoil mineralized ($3)
Muriate of potash ($6)
Clay ($6)

Skipping the dolomite. 3" nutritious substrate with high CEC for my 75 gallon for under $30. That ain't bad.

Or you could just get plain sand and call it a day. You'll need alot of root tabs though. Keep in mind that sand and kitty litter are completely inert and will offer the plants zero nutrition.

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Originally Posted by UGA_Grad_Student

In the terms of a planted aquarium, I am a beginner. I have had aquariums for several years and also had plants. Before now it has been a o thats cheap and looks cool lets throw it in and hope it works. That is all about to change now that I have just acquired a 55 gallon tank. Enough background here is my question...

I am looking for a cheap substrate that will work and help plants flourish. Maybe some kind of combination from a store such as lowes??

I figure there are people on here that could help me out. Right now it is just a bare bottom tank and looking kinda boring. I can post pictures if people would like.

Thanks for all the help!!

Hi UGA_Grad_Student,

I am currently using Safe-T-Sorb #7941 which is working very well. The first use requires substantial washing but the high CEC, natural appearance, and economical price makes it a very attractive option. I like the mix of grain sizes and the mix of natural colors. It is available online at Drillspot for $10.27 per 40# bag with free shipping included.
http://www.drillspot.com/products/1476408/Moltan_7941_Montmorillonite_Clay_Absorbant_40_lb

Here is a picture of my 10 gallon, with Safe-T-Sorb substrate. This tank has no CO2, just Flourish Comprehensive and Flourish Excel. The baby Corys have been in there for over 3 months and have doubled in size.


And here is a picture of my 20g high set up 3/1/13

[UGA_Grad_Student]

I posted this thread over a year ago and have since figured out what worked for me at the time. I wanted to update the thread and tell people what I went with and how it has worked out. I did that because I noticed a lot of views on this thread. I figured there are more people like me, trying to save a lot of money yet still go about it in a proper method. The kitty litter/sand combo worked wonders with me. The plants really pop against the black sand.

[shift]

Where do you guys find cheap black sand?

[creekbottom]

Originally Posted by shift

Does anyone know who sells the black beauty blasting sand in canada?

tractor supply seems to be a us chain

That would depend where you are in Canada, it's kinda big.

I went searching for it in Edmonton but was unable to find it. Places like SIL industries, Burnco, Manus Abrasives were either out of stock with no idea when it might be back in stock or just didn't have it. I didn't think to try Target Products (another abrasive/building material company, not the American Target). It is listed on their website but by that time I had bought a bag of overpriced black sand from the LFS.

[shift]

Is there any other known brands of an equivalent brands? Most seem to be walnut or crushed glass based around me (so far)

Although if it is just slag.. there is huge mountains of slag an hour or so from my house at an old mine site.. no idea if its aquarium safe though! scrap that. just read that its from an old copper mil.