Some tricks

hey all

I'm pretty new at all of this and would like to know a few tricks on getting sub-straight and what would be the best type to buy to grow pretty much any plants
some help would be great..

 

Hmmm you can get some ADA aquasoil, it has very nice nutrients for plants. If you are not that crazy about the look of it you could go with @Seachem 's product called Flouride.

 

The ADA will also make your water a bit softer, don't know where you are from (please update your location) but in JHB the water is pretty hard.

 

The ADA Aquasoil in my opinion, is the best all round substrate! You don't have to wash it or cap it, just pour it in, do your scaping, plant your tank and it's done. Sounds easy... It is, comes with instructions. The stuff works and works well!
If you go to the sponsors page, look for The Planted Tank, you can ask there for stockists in your area.
Regards
Barry

 

You also need to keep in mind what fish you'll be keeping. If you plan on keeping fish that enjoy digging, better get 'n finer substrate and use fertilisers in the water.

 

@hein24 Will it make your water softer or only bring your pH down ?

 

@Sean J - will be the best to answer that question but I believe it will bring your pH down abit and it will lower your KH. . .

 

hey guys i heard about "cat little" in your tank? anyone have an idea what that could be for?

 

Hi @Quue, it's not cat little, it's cat litter, the stuff that you put in a box for kitties to poop in. Hehehe... Yes it's also known as 'laterite' and can be added under normal gravel to enhance the iron for plants like Amazon Sword plants which require a lot of iron for decent growth.

I agree with @Barry.M and @hein24, ADA Aquasoil is a very good product, but it all depends on what your budget is...

@Dewald Coetzer, yes it brings down your ph to below 6 and it softens your water...

 

"Water softening is the reduction of the concentration of calcium, magnesium, and certain other metal cations in hard water."
@Skye01 -So the ADA absorbs the minerals in the water?

 

Yes, it does. The ADA Aquasoil WILL soften your water and reduce the PH as well... It is very acidic and that suits plants that like acid substrate.

 

The master has spoken lol @Sean J:adore::adore::adore:

 

hahaha sorry about that was a "little"out of it when i sent that ....

 

just a thought on the cat litter , is is not possibly zeolite . the post the otherday abt grolite , if you looked at the minerals list on the pratley site they have zeolite as cat litter/water purification , if it is zeolite based then prolly wouldn't be a good idea to use it , only in emergency as it sucks in and stores ammonia , if by chance you put salt in the aquarium it would release the ammoina back int to the water (recharge the zeolite)

 

hey guys

does anyone know where i can get a black substrate? having a real hard time finding it in randburg very frustrating...

thanx guys

 

Seachem Black Flourite, I am sure you can get it from one of the sponsors, works excellent. And far far far less messy then most other aquarium plant soils

 

thanks Juddy will ask my LPS

 

hi all ive been using river sand for awhile now rinsed it and all im hoping its also good to use .i hope.....

 

I've used kitty litter many times in the past and never had a problem with it. You must however use the unscented, untreated kitty litter. Currently, I have 4 tanks up and running. all with a topsoil/kitty litter based substrate, which I've capped with PFS, pea gravel and Desert Dune sand respectively. See this link to my planted jungle for more info: Another one! Oh dear, this could become a habbit!!

 

Hi halo123.
It isn't zeolite, but Laterite, You must however use the unscented, untreated kitty litter.
For a low budget set-up, it works very well. You can read more about Laterite here: http://www.aquabotanic.com/?p=1056
I have now started using the ADA Aquasoil and if you can afford it, it really is the best available substrate... No fuss, no mess at all and real easy to use!