Clay balls.

[Firefly]

So after much thinking of a title for this thread I decided to go with the obvious one.

I have heard of using cooked pottery clay as a substrate capped with PFS. Would it be possible just to add a larger ball near the roots and leave it there?
Basically I'm asking is : Can I just drop a ball of clay into a fish tank without any problems?
What is in the clay that is soo good for plants other that Iron?
Thanks
M

P.S. I will be doing an experiment soon with regards to clay as a substrate compared to a control.

[Rudi]

Hey Firefly,as far as I know,the high iron content in the clay is the only reason to use it.Iron is very important for 'heavy rooters'.
I think if you were to just drop a ball of clay in the tank,it would start to dissolve.When capped with whatever substrate you have and left undisturbed,it still dissolves,albeit very slowly,but the capping media keeps it under,near the roots,if you know what I mean.

[Firefly]

So do you think that it would be a good idea to push a few under my Amazons?

[Rudi]

Your Amazons will love you forever.
They will whisper among themselves and say what a good feeder you are,"Firefly,the big hand from the sky,he who feeds us and switches on the lights".
Oh,and that's a 'Yes'.

[Firefly]

LOL! Had a good laugh. Will put some in tonight.

[leonard]

Hi i am useing clay balls and i put 2.3.2 fertilizer in them.I then leave the balls in the sun for 3/4 days .I then put 2-3 balls per plant and works fine.The plants loves the balls.The balls are about 15mm in size.They last about 2-3 months

Regards

[Zoom]

Whilst I am always skeptical about using different stuff in my tank, logic is screaming no-no-no to me now about fertilizer 2.3.2 in a tank. The warning label on fertilizers for terrestrial plants advise the user to wear a mask whilst scattering it, a chemical mask is preferrential. It also advises you to remove any pets that may be on the property whilst you are scattering it.

Something tells me that a warning like this should at least give the user some indication that it is dangerous if inhaled... and now we want to go and put it into a completely enclosed environment with our fish? Not a clever decision if I might say so myself. I would be very interested to hear Dirk Bellstedt response to this one!

[leonard]

The tank that i am useing the balls in got 20 discus in and they are spawning and looking good.I was allso skeptical about it.Tried it and works fine.Its got no effect on the fish.Thaeplants are groing .The amount of 2.3.2 in the balls are small and release slow thru the clay.

[azurekoi]

Want iron in your tank - a coupla rusty panel pins have always done the trick for me....

[shihr]

yup so does some rusty nails strait to the "root of things" :P

[Firefly]

I didn't mix any fertz in. Will try that another time I have some nails in as well. Just thought I would give it a go. Will update on whether the plants look more lush in time.

[Firefly]

Well the plants (amazons) seem to be more lush already. Some nice new BIG leaves sprouting. Clay balls+ Prof's fertz+ PFP+ PFS= Happy plants!