Fluorite

jpappy789

jpappy789

Plants need meat too
Feb 18, 2007
26,364
5
89
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Gainesville, FL
Real Name
Josh
I've never tried any sort of plant substrate so I thought I would give it a try. I just bought a 20 lb bag for my 10 gallon Im going to setup soon, but I have a couple questions...

1) Says its prewashed but still may be cloudy...should I still wash or just let it settle on its own?

2) Bag also says that it is best to use as the only substrate, but is it smooth enough for most bottom dwellers? Does it tend to get stirred up if left on top?
 
Wash it...you'll be glad you did. ;)
I see no problem mixing it with other substrates. (I do)
The plants do just fine either way.
I've never had any problems with bottom feeders rooting around in flourite. (Corys, loaches) all had nice long barbels.
It stays on the bottom and doesn't stir up any worse than most substrates available. If you mix it with sand, it will rise to the top in time.
 
Wash it. Wash it. Wash it more. If you don't wash it, your water will get ridiculously cloudy, and stay that way until you change out about 100,000,000% of your water. Then it will cloud up horribly every time it is disturbed. From what I've heard, if you wash it (ALOT) this won't be a problem. Obviously, I didn't wash mine enough. I removed it and replaced it with plain sand. When I removed it after about a year in the tank, I would take out a cupful, and have to wait several hours for it to settle out again before removing more. Definately wash it well.
 
I only kinda washed it, and after a week the water was still opaque. 0 visibility. Stick your hand in the tank and it dissapears! OOOH, it's magic!

I had the red gravel stuff.
 
i've never used fluorite myself, but i'm certainly planning to myself. from what i've read so far, it definitely needs to be washed and washed very well, as everyone else said. i guess it's awful for clouding even after washing and might take a while to settle. as for mixing, i plan to mix it when i get it to create a more natural blend of substrate, and i've yet to find anything saying not too. probably just the company's method of making you buy a bigger bag :P
 
just put as much as you can into a collander and put it under the faucette in the tub and stir it up with your hands till it you dont see anything coming out anymore.
 
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