View Full Version : (aquarium plants.com substrate) help!!!
mancas24
10-03-2008, 11:28 PM
i was on the aquariumplants.com website and was looking at their 5 gallon tank substrate. i was wondering if anyone has used it and had good results. but my main question is if i can keep fish in in the tank with this substrate since it is supposed to be iron rich for the plants. its also the cheapest black substrate i could find for my 55 gallon tank. any help would be much appreciated :nilly::screwy:
DAVIDFBT
10-03-2008, 11:44 PM
Can you give us a link?
Bk718
10-03-2008, 11:45 PM
substrate is good for plants and will be fine with fish.
Though it being the cheapest black substrate.. check petco/petsmart they have 20lb bag of black substrate for $13
water_wako
10-03-2008, 11:46 PM
I phoned them because I have a 55 gallon as well. You will need at least 6 gallons for a 55 gallon aquarium because the 5 gallon bucket is a bit short according to them.
www.aquariumplants.com (http://www.aquariumplants.com)
Bk718
10-03-2008, 11:58 PM
Substrate Calculator (http://www.plantedtank.net/substratecalculator.html)
The thing about being iron-rich, its not dangerous to fish, since its in a way locked into the substrate, that plants take up through their roots.
brentling
10-04-2008, 2:08 AM
This is Soilmaster Select (SMS) which is not sold anymore. I recently purchased 100 lbs of a product called Turface MVP Grey for $36.00 as my local Lesco/Johne Deere store. It is identical in all respects and is working out wonderfully. It does contain iron (a good thing) and has excellent absorbtive qualuities. I am goingg to soak it in ferts before I fill the tank. This shouild help the roots of the new plants gget started.
Mgamer20o0
10-04-2008, 2:12 AM
brentling (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=88984) is right.
mancas24
10-05-2008, 11:08 PM
thx a lot everyone very helpful i just hop the john deere near has it
aquaholic
10-06-2008, 1:01 AM
what kind of a store is john deer? farm equipment?? I was just wondering what other store might have it.
brentling
10-06-2008, 3:26 PM
what kind of a store is john deer? farm equipment?? I was just wondering what other store might have it.
Landscaping supplies. http://www.lesco.com/
You can also try to find a dealer here: http://www.profileproducts.com/sports_fields/wheretobuy.htm
It comes in red (reddish brown) or gray. Turface MVP Grey is what I am using (black, really).
aquaholic
10-06-2008, 11:29 PM
is that all you have or did you put some regular gravel on top of that??
brentling
10-07-2008, 12:20 AM
Just the Turface. I am using a scattering of peat moss underneath, and soaking it with fertilizers and mulm to "charge" it up with nutrients. The Turface is very absorptive and will hold on to certain nutrients until the plant's root need it.
You could certainly put gravel over top, but the gravel or sand, etc. are heavier than the Turface and will eventually sink to the bottom anyway. Plus, I like the look of the Turface Grey.