Post by ree123 on Feb 15, 2010 15:06:30 GMT -6
I have been doing quite a bit of research lately re: various substates available for aquarium use. -------
I have been reading about the use of Oil dry and/or Thrifty-sorb from Wal mart and Auto Zone; and Turface and/or Soilmaster Select used for baseball fields from gardening centers like John Deere, etc...
All these products are suppose to be clay based products, all needing to be rinsed to remove the dust, and all similiar to the expensive flourite sold at our LFS's. These products are all suppose to be inert for our tank floors, and with the ability to hold nutrients just as any gravel would, but much better for plants,
as is the Flourite product line. They are referenced to on other forums as fine in composure, so live plants would root well in them, and available in various colors, charcoal to almost an off white. ----- I have only found 1 person who stated his ph decreased by .5 with it's use. All others seem to report no ph or water hardness changes. --- These substrates are way much cheaper than the Flourite brand products.
----- I would like for others here on our forum to chime in with ideas, opinons, previous knowledge, be it first hand or second, about these products and their use within our hobby. ---
As has been said many times before by myself and others, "Aquarium grade anything costs lots more than commercial grade everything." -----
Your thoughts, comments, and expertize please... :-)
I have been reading about the use of Oil dry and/or Thrifty-sorb from Wal mart and Auto Zone; and Turface and/or Soilmaster Select used for baseball fields from gardening centers like John Deere, etc...
All these products are suppose to be clay based products, all needing to be rinsed to remove the dust, and all similiar to the expensive flourite sold at our LFS's. These products are all suppose to be inert for our tank floors, and with the ability to hold nutrients just as any gravel would, but much better for plants,
as is the Flourite product line. They are referenced to on other forums as fine in composure, so live plants would root well in them, and available in various colors, charcoal to almost an off white. ----- I have only found 1 person who stated his ph decreased by .5 with it's use. All others seem to report no ph or water hardness changes. --- These substrates are way much cheaper than the Flourite brand products.----- I would like for others here on our forum to chime in with ideas, opinons, previous knowledge, be it first hand or second, about these products and their use within our hobby. ---
As has been said many times before by myself and others, "Aquarium grade anything costs lots more than commercial grade everything." -----
Your thoughts, comments, and expertize please... :-)
