[BroddieBeau]

Sample Descriptions


Substrate Gold - Schoeler Enterprises, USA - lateric soil mined in the US; comes in grandular and stick forms; deep, orange-red; silt-5mm in size; no organic matter; will cloud water.

Yolo loam/vermiculite - Yolo County, CA, USA - local loam/vermiculite blend; unknown percentages of ingredients; homogenized; shiny, brown, mica, appearance; very small amount of organic matter; will cloud water.

Danish redart clay - Danish pottery, Denmark - powdery; brick red dust; no organic matter; will cloud water.

Finland local clay - Viikki, Helsinki, Finland - silty; dusty; light-beige; silt-5mm in size; easily crumbled; no organics matter; will cloud water.

Finland pine/fir forest - Eno, Northern Carelia, Finland - sand and silt; beige-orange; homogenized; small amount of organics; will cloud water.

Finland mixed forest - Helsinki, Finland - sand and silt; powdery; brown; will cloud water.

First Layer Pure Laterite - Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, USA - hard lateric soil and rock; mining location unknown, possibly US; deep, brown-red; <1-5mm in size; no organic matter; will cloud water.

Profile - Profile Products LLC/Shultz, USA - illite and fuller earth kiln fired to ceramic grandules; dark grey with beige specks; 1mm in size; no organic matter.

Ontario preglacial subsoil - Don River Valley Brickworks, Toronto, Canada - powdery with small rocks; light grey; homogenized; silt-5mm in size; no organics matter; will cloud water.

Ontario postglacial topsoil - mixed hardwood lot, Don River Valley, Toronto, Canada - sand and silt; dark grey-brown; homogenized; some organic matter; will cloud water.

Terralit - Aqualine Buschke, Germany - zeolite-based; very hard; multi-colored (white, brick* red, black); resembles small aquarium gravel; 2-5mm in size; no organic matter.

AquaTerra - Natural Aquarium and Terrarium, USA - powdery, highly organic blend, possibly peat and laterite; dark red-brown; homogenized; will float and cloud water.

Hartz pH 5 cat litter - Hartz, USA - possibly type of arcillite; hard, will not break down in water; light beige to cream; 1-3mm in size; no organic matter.

Cedar Heights redart clay - Resco, USA - powdery; brick red dust; no organic matter; will cloud water.

Dupralit G - Dupla, Germany - lateritic soil commonly mined in Sri Lanka; deep orange-red; silt-2mm in size, some larger grandules; very small amount of organic matter; will cloud water.
*

Turface - Profile Products LLC, USA - medium hard arcillite and other clays, possibly kiln fired; light beige; resembles aquarium gravel; 2-5mm in size; no organic matter.

Special Kitty cat litter - Walmart, USA - soft, crushable clay pieces; possibly bentonite and montmorillonite; light grey; 2-5mm in size; no organic matter; will cloud water.

Natural River Rock - (manufacturer unknown) - very hard calcined clay; light beige; resembles aquarium gravel; 2-5mm in size; no organic matter.

Flourite - Seachem, USA - fracted, stable clay; very hard; multi-colored (brown, red-brown, black); resembles aquarium gravel; no organic matter.

South Carolina topsoil - South Carolina, USA - sand and silt; large amounts of dark humus; soft and powdery; orange-brown; will float and cloud water.

Play sand - Lowes, USA - clean, no visible trash; white and clear; 1mm in size; no organic matter.

CaribSea Tropic Isle Laterite - CaribSea, USA - very hard lateric rock; deep brown-red; resembles large aquarium gravel; 2-10mm in size; no organic matter.

Onyx Gravel - Seachem, USA - naturally source fracted substance; appears to be porous clay or rock; very hard; light and dark grey; resemvles large aquarium gravel; 2-10mm in size; no organic matter.

Tetra Initial Sticks - Tetra Products - substrate additive; medium hard, will crumble; dark grey; 5-10mm pellets; good amount of organic matter; will float and cloud water.

India local laterite - Northern Nune, India - powdery; deep brick red; silt-2mm in size; very small amount of organic matter; will cloud water.

Turface BLack - Profile Products LLC, USA - medium hard arcillite and other clays, possibly kiln fired; dark brown and black; resembles aquarium gravel; 2-5mm in size; no organic matter.

Greensand - (manufacturer unknown) - substrate additive; medium hard, will crumble, dark green; silt-1mm in size; small amount of organic matter; some matter will float and cloud water.
*

DATA

Substrate Gold * * * Yolo loam/vermiculite * * * Danmark Red Art Clay * * * Finland local clay * * * Finland Pine/Fir Forest * *
Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg)
Al * 6410 * Al * 30500 * Al * 11000 * Al * 27200 * Al * 14800
As * 0 * As * 0 * As * 21.5 * As * 0 * As * 0
Ba * 14.6 * Ba * 556 * Ba * 235 * Ba * 210 * Ba * 20.6
Be * 0.5 * Be * 1.1 * Be * 1.2 * Be * 0.9 * Be * 0.3
Ca * 718 * Ca * 6210 * Ca * 16900 * Ca * 4060 * Ca * 338
Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0
Co * 2.5 * Co * 30.1 * Co * 7.6 * Co * 20.9 * Co * 4
Cr * 143 * Cr * 512 * Cr * 25.2 * Cr * 66.8 * Cr * 20
Cu * 13.3 * Cu * 35 * Cu * 12.5 * Cu * 43.4 * Cu * 5.9
Fe * 41700 * Fe * 29700 * Fe * 24300 * Fe * 46100 * Fe * 12600
K * 423 * K * 15600 * K * 3590 * K * 11100 * K * 337
Mg * 528 * Mg * 36200 * Mg * 5130 * Mg * 14500 * Mg * 1640
Mn * 30.9 * Mn * 488 * Mn * 334 * Mn * 629 * Mn * 61.5
Na * 220 * Na * 751 * Na * 146 * Na * 762 * Na * 0
Ni * 6.5 * Ni * 104 * Ni * 18.9 * Ni * 35.4 * Ni * 8.1
Pb * 11 * Pb * 21.2 * Pb * 22.8 * Pb * 12.7 * Pb * 0
Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 5.6 * Sb * 0
Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0
Sn * 5.2 * Sn * 11.2 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 10.2 * Sn * 5
Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0
V * 111 * V * 74.4 * V * 27.3 * V * 83.8 * V * 24.1
Zn * 9.2 * Zn * 95.7 * Zn * 46.3 * Zn * 103 * Zn * 15.8
Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
pH = 4.9 * CEC = 18.4 me./100g* * pH = 6.7 * CEC = 33.7 me./100g * pH = 8.8 * CEC = 23.7 me./100g * pH = 6.7 * CEC = 27.3 me./100g * pH = 4.7 * CEC = < 0.1 me./100g
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Finland Mixed Forest * * * First Layer Pure Laterite * * * Profile * * * Ontario subsoil (preglacial) * * * Ontario Topsoil(postglacial) * *
Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg)
Al * 3680 * Al * 5110 * Al * 9940 * Al * 13400 * Al * 4180
As * 0 * As * 20.3 * As * 24.4 * As * 0 * As * 0
Ba * 10.5 * Ba * 12.1 * Ba * 311 * Ba * 108 * Ba * 21.1
Be * 0 * Be * 0.5 * Be * 0.8 * Be * 0.6 * Be * 0.2
Ca * 812 * Ca * 181 * Ca * 12800 * Ca * 132000 * Ca * 829
Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0
Co * 2 * Co * 3.6 * Co * 5 * Co * 8.7 * Co * 2
Cr * 5.9 * Cr * 110 * Cr * 36.4 * Cr * 20.4 * Cr * 5.3
Cu * 1.8 * Cu * 24.5 * Cu * 4.9 * Cu * 19.6 * Cu * 8.9
Fe * 6070 * Fe * 118000 * Fe * 13200 * Fe * 17300 * Fe * 6060
K * 389 * K * 0 * K * 3920 * K * 3070 * K * 306
Mg * 1380 * Mg * 140 * Mg * 4220 * Mg * 9160 * Mg * 613
Mn * 116 * Mn * 65.9 * Mn * 106 * Mn * 444 * Mn * 81.3
Na * 0 * Na * 0 * Na * 339 * Na * 386 * Na * 171
Ni * 3.1 * Ni * 12.6 * Ni * 16.2 * Ni * 17.9 * Ni * 4.6
Pb * 0 * Pb * 22 * Pb * 7.4 * Pb * 9 * Pb * 37.9
Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0
Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0
Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0
Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0
V * 11.6 * V * 258 * V * 14.9 * V * 28.1 * V * 11.4
Zn * 14.4 * Zn * 8.4 * Zn * 49.6 * Zn * 42.6 * Zn * 27.9
Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
pH = 7.0 * CEC = < 0.1 me./100g * pH = 5.7 * CEC = 2.7 me./100g * pH = 7.0 * CEC = 33.2 me./100g * pH = 9.1 * CEC = 21.4 me./100g * pH = 5.0 * CEC = 9.8 me./100g
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Terralit * * * AquaTerra * * * Hartz pH5 * * * C.H. RedArt Clay * * * Dupralit G * *
Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg)
Al * 33100 * Al * 13300 * Al * 8150 * Al * 13400 * Al * 14600
As * 0 * As * 10.3 * As * 0 * As * 11.8 * As * 20.7
Ba * 34.8 * Ba * 71.9 * Ba * 23.5 * Ba * 89.9 * Ba * 92.3
Be * 2 * Be * 0.6 * Be * 0.4 * Be * 0.7 * Be * 1
Ca * 12700 * Ca * 1380 * Ca * 169 * Ca * 1470 * Ca * 728
Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 1.1 * Cd * 0
Co * 0 * Co * 13.2 * Co * 9.7 * Co * 15 * Co * 27.8
Cr * 0 * Cr * 18.9 * Cr * 68 * Cr * 21 * Cr * 107
Cu * 71.4 * Cu * 17.7 * Cu * 7.7 * Cu * 16.9 * Cu * 53.9
Fe * 2790 * Fe * 27300 * Fe * 9480 * Fe * 37500 * Fe * 80100
K * 12200 * K * 3170 * K * 1060 * K * 3280 * K * 359
Mg * 3680 * Mg * 4660 * Mg * 1590 * Mg * 4890 * Mg * 672
Mn * 1240 * Mn * 159 * Mn * 20.1 * Mn * 174 * Mn * 1570
Na * 3090 * Na * 157 * Na * 61.9 * Na * 257 * Na * 68
Ni * 0 * Ni * 43.4 * Ni * 13.9 * Ni * 49.5 * Ni * 30.3
Pb * 26.4 * Pb * 9.8 * Pb * 0 * Pb * 10.5 * Pb * 31.9
Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0
Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0
Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0
Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0
V * 1.6 * V * 44.3 * V * 28.3 * V * 51.5 * V * 141
Zn * 48.1 * Zn * 57.4 * Zn * 41.2 * Zn * 64 * Zn * 91
Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
pH = 5.7 * CEC = 44.6 me./100g * pH = 4.4 * CEC = 41.3 me./100g pH = 4.7 * CEC = 43.0 me./100g * pH = 8.3 * CEC = 11.5 me./100g * pH = 6.3 * CEC = 16.2 me./100g
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TURFACE * * * Litter (WalMart-Special Kitty) * * * Natural River Rock * * * Flourite * * * South Carolina topsoil * *
Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg)
Al * 6590 * Al * 5980 * Al * 9740 * Al * 6820 * Al * 5730
As * 8 * As * 8.1 * As * 0 * As * 11.3 * As * 0
Ba * 124 * Ba * 11.6 * Ba * 217 * Ba * 133 * Ba * 156
Be * 0.7 * Be * 0.5 * Be * 0.9 * Be * 0.3 * Be * 0.2
Ca * 3640 * Ca * 14300 * Ca * 2560 * Ca * 527 * Ca * 5810
Cd * 0 * Cd * 2.4 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0.6
Co * 2.6 * Co * 2.7 * Co * 4.2 * Co * 3.4 * Co * 2.6
Cr * 15.8 * Cr * 29.6 * Cr * 27.1 * Cr * 6.2 * Cr * 10
Cu * 4.1 * Cu * 12.6 * Cu * 2.1 * Cu * 13.8 * Cu * 73.2
Fe * 10700 * Fe * 14500 * Fe * 14300 * Fe * 9610 * Fe * 11500
K * 3210 * K * 2170 * K * 3500 * K * 1710 * K * 433
Mg * 2730 * Mg * 3760 * Mg * 3150 * Mg * 1490 * Mg * 995
Mn * 96 * Mn * 47.5 * Mn * 104 * Mn * 85.5 * Mn * 136
Na * 574 * Na * 395 * Na * 642 * Na * 444 * Na * 570
Ni * 11.8 * Ni * 21.1 * Ni * 8.3 * Ni * 8 * Ni * 4.1
Pb * 6.6 * Pb * 9.3 * Pb * 0 * Pb * 5.4 * Pb * 218
Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0
Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0
Sn * 0 * Sn * 5.8 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 5.8 * Sn * 6.3
Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0
V * 10.4 * V * 12.3 * V * 10.3 * V * 8.8 * V * 24.5
Zn * 33.4 * Zn * 70.5 * Zn * 30.6 * Zn * 33.5 * Zn * 248
Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
pH = 6.2 * CEC = 29.8 me./100g * pH = 6.1 * CEC = 27.0 me./100g * pH = 6.7 * CEC = 34.6 me./100g * pH = 5.5 * CEC = 1.7 me./100g * pH = 4.8 * CEC = 24.3 me./100g
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Play Sand (Lowes) * * * CaribeSea Laterite * * * Onyx Gravel * * * Tetra Initial Sticks * * * India - local laterite * *
Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg)
Al * 43.3 * Al * 1140 * Al * 443 * Al * 4710 * Al * 39400
As * 0 * As * 0 * As * 12.4 * As * 0 * As * 31.1
Ba * 0 * Ba * 5.1 * Ba * 0 * Ba * 30.5 * Ba * 132
Be * 0 * Be * 0 * Be * 0 * Be * 0.6 * Be * 1
Ca * 0 * Ca * 1040 * Ca * 172000 * Ca * 9950 * Ca * 2360
Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * Cd * 0
Co * 0 * Co * 0 * Co * 0 * Co * 2.9 * Co * 60.2
Cr * 0 * Cr * 4.2 * Cr * 2.1 * Cr * 12.5 * Cr * 166
Cu * 0 * Cu * 2.1 * Cu * 2.1 * Cu * 30.4 * Cu * 218
Fe * 65.1 * Fe * 4170 * Fe * 2920 * Fe * 14200 * Fe * 114000
K * 0 * K * 205 * K * 376 * K * 1630 * K * 642
Mg * 0 * Mg * 193 * Mg * 106000 * Mg * 1900 * Mg * 1970
Mn * 0 * Mn * 103 * Mn * 65.5 * Mn * 79.1 * Mn * 1390
Na * 0 * Na * 0 * Na * 0 * Na * 10700 * Na * 72
Ni * 0 * Ni * 0 * Ni * 3.7 * Ni * 10.5 * Ni * 60
Pb * 0 * Pb * 0 * Pb * 13.7 * Pb * 13.7 * Pb * 18.3
Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * Sb * 8.3
Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0 * Se * 0
Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * Sn * 0
Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * Tl * 0
V * 0 * V * 3.1 * V * 2.9 * V * 5.5 * V * 458
Zn * 0 * Zn * 0 * Zn * 0 * Zn * 20 * Zn * 49.5
Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * Ag * 0
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
pH = 6.0 * CEC = < 0.1 me./100g * pH = 9.8 * CEC = 6.7 me./100g * pH = 9.6 * CEC = 1.3 me./100g * pH = 3.2 * CEC = 83.0 me./100g * pH = 6.2 * CEC = 17.2 me./100g
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Turface Black * * * Greensand * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * Analytes * Conc. (mg/kg) * * * * * * * * * * * *
Al * 10500 * Al * 5070 * * * * * * * * * * * *
As * 0 * As * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ba * 119 * Ba * 20.4 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Be * 0 * Be * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ca * 5310 * Ca * 2680 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cd * 0 * Cd * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Co * 3.5 * Co * 3.1 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cr * 39.5 * Cr * 45.2 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cu * 5.21 * Cu * 3.5 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fe * 12600 * Fe * 11300 * * * * * * * * * * * *
K * 3980 * K * 4150 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mg * 4130 * Mg * 1110 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mn * 61.1 * Mn * 75.1 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Na * 353 * Na * 605 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ni * 14.8 * Ni * 9.5 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pb * 0 * Pb * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sb * 0 * Sb * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Se * 0 * Se * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sn * 0 * Sn * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tl * 0 * Tl * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
V * 18.7 * V * 5.5 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zn * 50.5 * Zn * 65 * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ag * 0 * Ag * 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
pH = 6.2 * CEC = 41.1 me./100g * pH = 3.5 * CEC = 26.2 me./100g * * * * * * * * * * * *
DATA OVERVIEW

Iron/Minerals


* Aquatic plants demand a good supply of iron for proper development. The search for iron sometimes decides what substrate choices we make. Macronutrients like calcium, magnesium, and potassium are also important in plant growth. Zinc, copper, manganese, etc. must be present in small amounts to provide essential micronutrients. First Layer Laterite has the highest amount of iron, a strong 11.8%. The local Indian laterite was right behind, with 11.4%. These values are a good approximation of total amounts. All the lateric soils have good iron content. The redart and natural clays had medium iron content. All other had medium to low amounts. If iron levels are low in your substrate, just amend it with clay or laterite balls. The Yolo loam/vermiculite blend has got to get an honorable mention for total mineral content.
*

pH


* A neutral to acidic substrate is the preference for the majority of aquarists. An important thing to remember, most bacteria are most productive at a pH of approximately 5.5. Macronutrients are best utilized by the plants at a neutral pH, while micronutrients are best at low pHs. The two redart clays had alkaline pH's and were comparably similar, eventhough a world apart. The preglacial Ontario clay had a large amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and it's pH corresponds to this. It was very different from the Finish clay, which resembled it in color and composition. The Onyx gravel reinforced it's buffering claim with a high pH, but the big suprise can from the CaribSea Laterite, which posted an even higher pH of 9.8. It does not seem to contain any calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
* The organic matter present in some of the samples would seem to dictate low pH values, and that is exactly what was found. The Tetra Initial Sticks had the lowest pH.* They would work on new set-ups by getting an acidic bed started, allowing for a quicker exchange of nutrients. Nitrifying bacteria work better in these low pH environments. AquaTerra also contained a large amount of organic matter, and it was a close second to the Tetra Sticks.* All other samples had pretty common pH values.
*

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)


* Some gardeners swear by CEC values, while others grow aquatic plants with nothing but blind faith. It is interesting to know the actual parameters of each substrate, but I've seen plants grown in plain sand and gravel. The samples that lacked at least some organic matter or clay, had slightly lower CECs. The big surprises here were Terralit and Tetra Initial Sticks. The zeolite composition of Terralit provides an excellent ion exchanging medium and has good mineral concentrations. The Tetra Sticks, with it's high organic and mineral content, also had a high CEC. The sandy samples had very poor CECs.
*

CONCLUSION


* The longer you look at the data tables, the more observations you begin to notice. I think the data has provided the aquatic gardening community an invaluable source of knowledge. Hopefully it can help narrow the decision making and clear up some of the confusion associated with substrate choices.
* I hope this analysis and overview has provided a good starting point for a successful planted aquarium. Regardless of data or arguments, it is still up to the individual to decide what's best for their needs. I have grown plants in sand, gravel, Flourite, and litter. All substrates gave good growth, given all other parameters were optimal. It's true some were more attractive, had higher iron levels, or contained more organic matter, but all can be utilized if set up and maintained properly.
*

Jamie S. Johnson is a trace metals chemist and has been in the aquarium hobby for over 15 years. He has been growing aquatic plants for around 5 years. Jamie is a member of the Aquatic Gardeners Association and The Aquatic Plant Digest. He can be reached via email at ----------------