Kitty litter with no TOP layer

[secretagent]

What would happen if I just mixed kitty litter and sand 50:30 Then put it in the tank? Would algae form on the KL particles?

[aquaverde]

I wouldn't. due to weight, esthetics and turbidity issues (too light, too ugly, too cloudy). Can't speak to algae.
Just say no to KL. Profile (Schultz' Aquatic Plant Soil) is better in ev-er-y way, except for price. Turface is the same thing, and much cheaper, if you can find it.

[GDominy]

I am all for experimentation with cheaper substrates.. however I still can't recomend the usage of kitty litter. Not every store gets their kitty litter from the same suppliers.. and in many cases there are multple production facilities for the same product/brand. So sometimes Bag A of BrandX KL is actually a totally different clay then Bag B of the same BrandX KL...

Save up and buy yourself something you don't have to mess around or experiment with.

In your example, its quite possible that if the KL softened with a 50/30 mix you could end up with some really nasty silty mud sitting on top of a layer of sand.

[secretagent]

ok THANKS