Palmfiber Peat soaked in Chemicult as a substrate.

While I do agree with all the information and advice in this thread, there are 1 or 2 things that I'd like to add...

Firstly, on the Flourite Matter. Personally, I don't believe in adding any nails into my tanks substrate, so flourite covers that bit nicely. Secondly, flourite is a stunning looking substrate for a tank. It makes the tank far more visually appealing than normal silica sand. Unless you're going for a beach type biotope look. Thirdly, flourite never wears away, which means that you can rinse it and re use it again and again and again... And lastly, it is super easy to plant in. Granted, It's quite pricey, but it is a fantastic substrate.

Why can't you lose the nails? Use the Peat fiber with chemicult as a bottom layer beneath the flourite. Surely this will be better than your standard silica sand? I mean, it's not white. Flourite looks far more natural.

Mineralised soil is not a bad option. While I have had some experience with Rose shrub mix, I would never do it again. Although I do have some in a tank with a sword plant and no light. The sword is still growing. Quite well actually... Beside the point, it makes the water stink and algae blooms are crazy. Minerlizing soil takes time. Lots of time. To me, this is the major down side of MS. There is plenty evidence of it being a brilliant method. Just look at Dianna Walsteads aquaria as proof and evidence...

I do believe there are many ways to skin this particular cat. Some ways don't work as well as others, but some work exceptionally well. This palm fiber peat method has only recently been mentioned. I would have used this method many times over, had I heard about it before this year. In fact I re-did my 4ft 250L tank just before Christmas using Prodac humus and humus plus, along with their plant substrate.

The only drawback I see to using this method is the fact that it is not an acidic substrate. Many of the really specialized plants require an acidic substrate to grow. Such as the Tonina species. They will not grow without an acidic root base. There are quite a few other plants tat prefer acidic roots as well. But I guess if you have acidic water in your tank, you should be ok. Possibly adding one or 2 ketapang leaves with the palm fiber peat will help with the acidity? I don't know. Maybe the Prof could help here?

 

Hi Slagter,

Nails are entirely optional as a matter of fact if you feed iron into the water column as well as putting the Chemicult into the medium, you could go without them, however, I have used them for 20 years or longer and before I added any iron to the water column and they certainly work very well in adding iron via the medium.

I fully agree that a substrate that has colour instead of white silica sand is more attractive, but you could obviously use a capping medium of your choice.

The main down factor of the mineralised soil is the fact that there are so many different soils that again we are not dealing with something that can be called constant.

Palm fiber peat is an acidic substrate, it is specifically mentioned that its pH is in the 5.4 to 6.8 range. What is important to me is that it is however not as acidic as other peat types are because that is also detrimental, but it certainly is an acidic medium, so Tonina should grow in it as well, and no more acidification is needed.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Been reading this thread with interest, as i will be moving in a few months time, so will look at re-scaping the 1.2m during the move, and will have the opportunity to look at new undergravel medium.

One question no one has asked is how long does this medium stay rich in nutrients for the plants? It muct eventually get depleated?

 

This is what I am putting in my 2.5m tank.

A layer of the palm fibre peat soaked in the Chemicult - I used a mere 10 blocks.

A thin layer of our new CAPM for the bacteria and other goodies.

4 bags of fluorite for a little bit of iron.

And then cap it all with pool filter sand.

 

Hey Hey Henk!

Whats the CAPM?? Sounds Interesting??

Cheeras!
G!

 

take a look at www.microbelift.com for more info - its under the pond section

 

Hey Henk!

Is that stuff Expensive?

Cheers!
G

 

a 20 lbs bag should retail for around R400

Their website works pretty well for me and is extremely fast my side.

 

They are actually in the process of converting it to an html site so that'll sort it all out as soon as it is done.

 

Why on earth would you cap the flourite with pool filter sand?

Ok... This makes me want to redo the main tank again and not make it a tanganyikan tank...

 

to prevent it from leaching in to the water.... remember i am only putting a thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn layer of flourite in just to add a little bit of iron

 

This looks like a fantastic thread,pity about all the chatter....

 

I will be doing this pretty soon, maybe in feb sometime, sounds promising.

 

Hi Dirk
Is this the correct palm peat?




TIA

 

Yep, thats the stuff!!

G!

 

Just to let others know how cheap this really is.
500g Chemicult Hydroponic Nutrient Powder (You only need 1 teaspoon per palm fibre peat brick) R49.95 - Supaplants
Palm Fibre Peat Brick R23.95 - Builders Warehouse (Don't even try the one in Table View. I bought the last 2 today. LOL)
5L water - R??
I will definately be using this when moving and 're-modelling' some of my tanks over the next few weeks.
I will post my experiences as I go along.
My 2c.

 

Quick question?

When does the peat loose its nutrional value?

 

Gilbert,

I would think that the peat may be expired in about two years, but by them you will want to redo your tank in any case. The nice thing about the peat is that you can take the peat and the gravel out together and then flush it with the hose in a big bucket. You will be able flush off the lighter PFP and then be able to reuse the gravel. You certainly cannot do that with flourite......

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Thanks Dirk


Looks Like a rescape coming along

 

what size is this, in KG?