laterite sufficient replacement for flourite?

[ChEeRs_BiG_EaRs]

hey guys, where i live flourite is, lets jsut say expensive. jsut wonderign if i layered the base of hte tank before adding gravel, whether this woudl be sufficient?
thanx
justin

[DIYMatt]

IMO- It is sufficent to grow to plants. But, I don't think it works as well and when you replant or remodel it makes a mess. Also, where I live the cost of laterite plus gravel is only slightly less than Flourite alone. Flourite alone is the best I have ever used and depending on tank size, IMO always worth the investment

What size of tank are you talking about? Another substrate I use in conjunction with Flourite in larger tanks is a product made by Schultzs. I have bought under the names "Profile clay soil conditioner" or Schultzs "Aquatic plant soil". Some people use something called Turface MPV, that is supposed to be the same thing. Its a product sold at garden centers or Wal-marts here to loosen clay soil. The only complaints I personally have with it is very light at first and it has a uniform color that I don't like. What I do is put down a deep layer of Profile and put a 1/2" or more layer of Flourite and it seems to work well for me. I get the best of both worlds, good substrate and lower cost. I hope this helps.

Oh, just don't forget to rinse it!! It is very dusty out of the bag:)

[Skittyfish]

That's all I have in mine...along with the gravel. It does make a cloud when I pull plants out that have long roots. And I put mine in a year after the gravel...huge mess, but it cleared up in about three days.

[djlen]

You want to see a huge mess. Use Laterite and wait a while til you've moved your plants around a bit and the laterite starts to get into the water column. It can create a real problem with algae issues once it come to the surface of the substrate.
Flourite is expensive, but it is a one time shot and worth the money in the long run.
Many people put a very fine dusting of plain old peat moss on the bottom of the tank, then a nice deep layer of Flourite over that and fill. But what I do works well for me and 'ages' up the tank immediately. I just give the Flourite a light washing, and then put the washed stuff into the tank(without water in it). Arrange the substrate the way you want it before filling. Then take a shallow bowl and set it on the Flourite and fill SLOWLY, letting the incoming water run onto the bowl and fill the tank that way. The object is to create ZERO agitation of the substrate. I have done this 4 or 5 times with minimal clouding.
Then, if you have access to the filter from an established, healthy tank, squeeze out the filter sponges into some tank water and siphon that mulm onto the surface of your newly laid Flourite. It will settle into the substrate and sift down into it allowing an instant cultivation of good bacteria.
When you plant you will experience some light dust kicking up, but this will dissipate over time.

Len

[Gunnie]

Have you considered Eco-Complete? It's not cheap either, but it's supposed to be all you need for substrate in a planted tank, and it is also supposed to have bacteria in it which excelerates the cycle. It's also not supposed to cloud the water. I bought some, but haven't used it yet.

Eco-Complete (http://http://www.carib-sea.com/Carib1.htm)