This is advertised on the back of this month's TFH. However, the photo looks like plain quartz gravel. If you go to the website, the photo shows lush plants, but you can't see the substrate. Curious.
http://activflora.com/
http://activflora.com/
New Brand of Substrate
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Anybody know anything about it?
Well it seems to come in red, black, white and a natural sand color. They are big on trying to trademark phrases though. Bio-activ Phosphorous™, Contains Live® Heterotrophic bacteria for Instant Cycling® , Activ-Flora™, Instant Cycling ™,Bio-activ Nutrients™, etc.
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I noticed that too haha
looks promising if they can get hc to grow in it their doing something right however i don't know how much better it is than something like sachems fluorite brands looks very similar to those line of substrates
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I was wondering about this product, but before I made a post I did a search and found this thread!
I thought I would try and break down the bullets in their magazine ads..
Bio activ nutrients, for faster healthier plant growth
I presume this means the minerals are chelated, either EDTA or some kind of organic binding agent
100% natural, no artificial dyes or additives
Its not epoxy coated gravel. It comes in different colors like Flourite does, black, red...
Naturally spherical grains promotes maximum diffusion, (aeration)
Anotherwords it will not compact, and it is smooth edged instead of fracted like Flourite
Activ Flora is rich in Iron, no need for laterite
So it is some kind of clay
Contains live bacteria
Thats always debateable in these products
....is extremely micro porus
Means it has high Cation Exchange Capacity, the ability to attract, hold and store positive ions, minerals and hold them for plant uptake.
Natural bi-segmentation process to promote optimal oxygenation
I have no idea what that means. Anybody have a guess?
Their WEB site has a guaranteed analysys,
Elemental Analysis:
Aluminum ..................10210
Magnesium ................ 2281
Barium ..........................124
Manganese .....................64
Calcium..........................195
Sodium.........................223
Cobalt...............................6
Nickel............................12
Chromium........................13
Vanadium.......................15
Copper ............................17
Zinc...............................29
Iron.............................18500
Potassium .................... 2195
Units=mg/kg
Anybody using it? Any thoughts. I have no idea what this stuff sells for
Its particularly high in aluminum, magnesium, potassium, and the highest concentration is iron. The fact it is fairly high in aluminum oxide makes it more like laterite than clay. Aluminum is of no value to plants
I thought I would try and break down the bullets in their magazine ads..
Bio activ nutrients, for faster healthier plant growth
I presume this means the minerals are chelated, either EDTA or some kind of organic binding agent
100% natural, no artificial dyes or additives
Its not epoxy coated gravel. It comes in different colors like Flourite does, black, red...
Naturally spherical grains promotes maximum diffusion, (aeration)
Anotherwords it will not compact, and it is smooth edged instead of fracted like Flourite
Activ Flora is rich in Iron, no need for laterite
So it is some kind of clay
Contains live bacteria
Thats always debateable in these products
....is extremely micro porus
Means it has high Cation Exchange Capacity, the ability to attract, hold and store positive ions, minerals and hold them for plant uptake.
Natural bi-segmentation process to promote optimal oxygenation
I have no idea what that means. Anybody have a guess?
Their WEB site has a guaranteed analysys,
Elemental Analysis:
Aluminum ..................10210
Magnesium ................ 2281
Barium ..........................124
Manganese .....................64
Calcium..........................195
Sodium.........................223
Cobalt...............................6
Nickel............................12
Chromium........................13
Vanadium.......................15
Copper ............................17
Zinc...............................29
Iron.............................18500
Potassium .................... 2195
Units=mg/kg
Anybody using it? Any thoughts. I have no idea what this stuff sells for
Its particularly high in aluminum, magnesium, potassium, and the highest concentration is iron. The fact it is fairly high in aluminum oxide makes it more like laterite than clay. Aluminum is of no value to plants
"For new setups, empty contents of bag into aquarium and fill with de-chlorinated tap water or distilled water. Activ-Flora™ will automatically bi-segment into 2 layers with finer grade substrate on the bottom.
If adding to an existing system, drain liquid prior to introducing new substrate and add slowly, while mixing."
So, I guess that's what they mean by bi-segmentation: small things fall through big cracks.
Straight from the link earlier in this thread. I'm guessing they have updated their webpage since this thread was started. Most of it looks like gravel except for the red and black. I'm mostly impressed with its ability to generate the exact same aquascape with four or five different substrates.
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I didn't see that on their WEB site. Thats interesting. They sure do like to use big words to describe simple processes! Hey, but thats marketing! It really seems to be more like Eco complete than anything else. I like the look of it, and the smooth round little pebbles are nice. Even after all these years, some people still think that the edges of Flourite are too sharp for some fish.
Sounds good, might be good, but I always am a bit leery of uber-hype.
This almost seems to be trying to run up some excitement based on some big, "scientificaly" sounding words(yep...I made that word up!).
I used to write advertising copy..so I know of what I speak.
Heck..I'll even take a shot at this!
"AquaLife 2(made up this substrate name, just to be clear!) is made of an all natural compressed absorptive mineral matrix, which is particularly well suited to the planted tank based on physical and chemical properties proven useful for centuries in the cultivation of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation. It's extreme porosity combined with material aquatic impermeability, allow this "wonder substrate" to both attract and redistribute nutrients from the water column while concurently maintaining it's physical attractiveness for years. An irregular shape yet general uniform granual size assure the "scape artist" a full measure of design options, yet, may well represent the perfect root development environment for the long term health of the flora. Natural ion exchange properties may well prove that Aqualife2 even assists in the removal of heavy metals and other potentially negative impurities from the water column!
AquaLife2..Plasticity in substrate management is a beautiful thing!"
I just described cat litter.
This almost seems to be trying to run up some excitement based on some big, "scientificaly" sounding words(yep...I made that word up!).
I used to write advertising copy..so I know of what I speak.
Heck..I'll even take a shot at this!
"AquaLife 2(made up this substrate name, just to be clear!) is made of an all natural compressed absorptive mineral matrix, which is particularly well suited to the planted tank based on physical and chemical properties proven useful for centuries in the cultivation of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation. It's extreme porosity combined with material aquatic impermeability, allow this "wonder substrate" to both attract and redistribute nutrients from the water column while concurently maintaining it's physical attractiveness for years. An irregular shape yet general uniform granual size assure the "scape artist" a full measure of design options, yet, may well represent the perfect root development environment for the long term health of the flora. Natural ion exchange properties may well prove that Aqualife2 even assists in the removal of heavy metals and other potentially negative impurities from the water column!
AquaLife2..Plasticity in substrate management is a beautiful thing!"
I just described cat litter.
nice, you get extra points for using the word matrix but should have mentioned that it is suitable for both amateurs and professionals. Perhaps the words wellness, vitality, harmonius and balanced should be worked in their somewhere. Oh and is the bisegmentation part of a unique non-linear process based on recently rediscovered ancient mayan texts that the aquarium industrial complex has known about for years but suppressed.
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LOL... very very true... but they ALL do that. Seachem, Eco complete, Amano.... its all marketing, but there is also some truth in there somewhere. In my opinion, every commecial substrate is basically the same. Only real difference is asthetic and other minor issues. I guess nobody here has tried this stuff yet. At least these guys are providing the mineral content, Amano won't even do that.
did a search for activ flora and not much came up.. this one is it.. I bought 5 16lbs bags of it for 19.99 each.. also bought 2 bags of 20lbs eco complete.. all black.. pics will come but water is really cloudy.. i'm sure it will remain that way till I get my fluval turned on.. tank is still only half full.. $140 too much to spend on substrate? maybe i went a little overboard...
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yes we need updates on the new substate
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I've seen it at Petco but not all the varieties. No, I do not buy fish there. My son likes to go and look at the birds and other animals.
I'd be careful about the phosphourus claim. I once had a substrate that had phosphate in the rock (didnt kow it when I bought it) and I had all kinds of algae issues until I switched to Flourite.
I'd be careful about the phosphourus claim. I once had a substrate that had phosphate in the rock (didnt kow it when I bought it) and I had all kinds of algae issues until I switched to Flourite.
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