[Wet Thumb Forum]-What is a good substrate?

[cheesehazard]

I know that just about everyone uses flourite but i was wondering if there is something else i can use that is cheaper. I want to redo my 55 gallon tank when my co2 system gets here. I was thinking about using 2 bags of flourite and then having sand over that. But if i could get around spending about 50 dollars for the flourite i would really like to. Ive seen some people talking about using kitty litter. Thanks

55 gallon planted in the works
55 gallon oscar tank
10 gallon shrimp tank

[Jack11]

Just a follow up on the Black Turface. I was finally able to find some here (in the midddle of nowhere) so, you may be able to as well. The typical advice I had been given for finding Turface was to contact athletic supply contractors, local baseball parks, clubs etc. No luck. Then I found a company here in Texas that supposedly had some. No offices near here. However, they gave me a list of local retailers who had accounts with them and could place orders. They wouldn't ship me any without an account and that would've meant getting numerous pallets of hundreds of 50# bags apiece. So, I contacted the businesses they named for me. After much trial and error, a local nursery who had previously never heard of Turface, said they could order some for me. I have yet to use it in an aquarium but, it looks great in water! Ranges from a light to a dark charcoal gray. I have used it in growing emersed aquatic plants and in my bonsai. If I can get the name of the regional distributor I'll post it. But, this won't do those of you outside of Texas much good. My advice, contact the usual suspects, local athletic field constuction/maintenance persons. Then try nurseries or, even farming supply/feed stores for you rural types. See who they order supplies from and ask if they carry Turface. May be called Turface Grey, or Turface Dark.
Jack

[imported_drgonzo]

andrew,
we are doing a 180 planted discus tank... tearing down a 150 gal saltwater reef and putting up the discus tank in the same location. we are using 400# of nice, fine roundish gravel mixed with 100# of florite in the 180. we like to use a realy deep substrate with a heated plenum (to promote temp gradiation) this 4:1 ratio has worked well for us for quite a few yrs.
skip

the crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe' Frank Zappa

[IUnknown]

The latest thing is to use Diamond Black, Black Turface and peat. I've seen tanks with this in person and really recommend it for looks and for great growth.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Are you folks aware that they make a Turface Black also?
Poor man's Eco complete if you ask me.

I'm not certain peat and lignite are precisely the same thing. To that I would say no.

I would add Profile, turface etc rather than laterite, it's cheaper and has plenty of iron and other traces, good CEC, porous etc.

I really don't know how much realistically peat vs lignite will improve things but they cost about the same, one is heavier, perhaps more concentrated, better able to absorb more nutrients perhaps and is a workable medium vs light fluffy peat(even if soaked).

So on that note alone, I'm happier with it.

I think whatever cap you want to add on top is fine, but the better stuff is something like onyx sand, flora base, eco complete, but sand should also work relatively well.

I'd still add mulm to any tank's base.

I have not found Eco complete to be an algae magnet in the start up phase, I have yet to get any type of algae attaching to it.

But if I added some NH4, I bet I could change that.

I still don't like Eco complete's light weight and replanting, even with tweezers. Remines me too much of Turface except black.

BTW, you folks can buy black turface also, I think it's close to the same cost, perhas a better poor man's DIY Eco complete come to think of it.

If you don't mind the weight of Eco Complete, then Turface "black" should not bother you either.

You can mix Eco complete or Black turface with black silica sand for added weight also.

After adding mulm, lignite/peat etc, I do not think you would find much difference in Eco complete vs Black turface.

That would be the best DIY substrate I would think:

Black Turface(about 8-10$ for 50lbs dry)
Lignite, 10$ for 50lbs
Mulm= free
Peat= 2-3$ for 10lbs
Black sand if desired.

Might only run 30-40$ for 75 gal tank.
Not bad vs 20$ a bag for eco complete x 5-7, Fertiplant at 50-70$ a tub,
Roughly a savings of close to 100-150$.

Regards,
Tom Barr <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Journal Database

[IUnknown]

hubbabubba,
I haven't looked into it, but I will for my next setup. Look around at,

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...b936c380b09b2c

Journal Database

[Raul-7]

Use Profile or Turface, it has more Fe, Mg, Ca, and micronutrients; and a higher CEC than Flourite!

[mm12463]

Personally I don't think I will ever go the kitty litter route. I've read far to many disaster stores then success. Seems like to often people end up with the wrong type and it just turns to mush and makes a massive mess. Least I would not want to try it out on a 50 gallon tank. I would rather experiment with kitty litter on a 10 gallon and learn there then on a 50.

Just found this on Rex's FAQ. He added some Words of Wisdom and points out some info about kitty litter, AKA CPA!

Mike
http://fish.silver-fox.us

[This message was edited by mm12463 on Mon March 01 2004 at 10:03 PM.]

[Tenor1]

Where do you get Turface or Profile? I've never heard of them.

Thanks,
Carlos

==============================
I try to keep the tank plain and simple but it never stays that way!

[abf]

I found Profile at Navelets Garden Supply store. I know they are all over the East Bay area but not sure of the full extent of their spread. I bought 40 lbs of Profile for $18.99, which is a great deal when compared to Flourite at $60+ for the same amount. The one downside is that Profile is tan and not a dark substrate, but you can just cover it.

[hubbahubbahehe]

one more question, would mixing turface black and flourite produce a nice natural color?