Perlite ≈ Vermiculite???

[Glenstorm]

was wondering if anyone has used Perlite instead of vermiculite in substrate mixtures? I can't seem to find vermiculite anywhere. Tried garden stores, Home Depot, etc. Apparently it was recently discovered that vermiculite contains trace amounts of Asbestos. Makes me wonder if stores are hesitant to carry it anymore.

Anyhow I am curious to hear if anyone has used Perlite. It seems to be similarly produced by volcanic/silicate reactions/heat.

Dan

[Tempest]

I used perlite but would never do so again.. Every time I do major replanting I got clouds of perlite floating around. :D

[firetank]

both are virtually indistinguishable once in the tank... i used a 1" layer of vermiculite\sand \clay pebble mix, topped off with an inch of grvael... initially there is some loss to the water, but that settles down after a week or so....

the difference between perl. and verrm. is the ability to hold and transfer nutrients back to any plants in the substrate (c.e.c.
rating)

try this link for a more in depth look at substrate....

http://www.aquabotanic.com/sfintro.htm

have u tried hydroponc suppliers online?? they all keep both verm. and perl.

(also used in growing certain illegal "relaxants"..)

hth

[plantbrain]

I would never use either. There's no need and it's messy and there are much better solutions/alternatives.

Flourite/onyx work much better and certainly better over the long term and if you plan on pruning the plants regularly.
Even Profile/Turface etc is much better than vermiculite etc.

Imagine changing a light fixture, not much issue.
Now imagine changing a substrate in an established tank.

I've used about every type of substrate method. There are only 3 or so methods that work well over the long term. Sand/laterite, profile Turface, flourite/onyx and you can add a little peat and mulm from another mature tank's gravel in any substrate to help.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[lesley]

I used vermiculite mixed with a sandy soil (yolo fine sandy loam) as per an article on The Krib. I really don't like it and I am thinking about somehow switching to something else.

I would think that perlite might be too rough, especially if you have cories or other bottom dwellers. My experience is that you are always going to get some mixing of substrates even if you're careful, and white perlite might look funny.

[firetank]

*addition*

i only used verm. because i was after a better substrate than just gravel, and laterit\fluorite\onyx sand and onyx gravel are unavailable in the uk......

[Faramir]

Not so. Fluorite most certainly is available. I've seen it at the Goldfish Bowl in Oxford and Derwent Koi and Tropicals in the Hope Valley, if either of these are any use for you. I'm sure it's available elsewhere if you ask around.

[firetank]

faramir --

ive looked around virtually all the lfs in a 20m radius of where i live, and also spoken to a fair few uk forum subscribers who had the same problem that they cant get any...

ive yet to find an online supplier that stocks it either!!


where is hope valley???

thanks

[Faramir]

The Hope Valley runs from Edale to the Derwent in Derbyshire. Not knowing where you are, I can't tell whether that's any use to you.

[firetank]

sorry, mean to edit my location. halifax, nr leeds.....

[Faramir]

Ah yes, 'alifax.

In which case, the Hope Valley isn't so very far away. Derwent Koi and Tropicals is on the old A625 (Sheffield to Castleton). From Sheffield go through Hathersage and just after the traffic lights at Bamford you go over a bridge, and immediately on your right is a garden centre. It's in there.

Might want to give her a ring first to ensure she's got some though. Makes a nice day out if you don't know the area - Calderdale without the chimneys.

Edit to add details from yell.co.uk:

Derwent Koi & Tropicals
High Peak Garden Centre Stickleholme Bamford
Hope Valley Derbyshire
S33 0AH

Tel: 01433 650029

[tyler]

i wish i were brittish

[firetank]

brilliant info,

thanks faramir.

:D

[Faramir]

Incidently I was in there yesterday and they had loads of laterite.

[Aderynglas]

Hi folks , just a question for the brits, is it possible to get laterite loose?? ( by the pound/kilo) I only ever see it sold in boxes marketed by API and it is very expensive. I'm also wondering about the clay balls used for hydroponics as local ferts, any thoughts????

Regards
Paule

[firetank]

do you mean hydroclite???

its the expanded clay crocking.......

its too lightweigfht, and i havent seen any comparisons done re its suitability v fluorite\laterite... i used it in my sand\verm lower layer of substrate(i was curious too...) mainly to stop the mix compacting too much.......

hth

[Aderynglas]

Yup, I think its the same stuff, but the bags I've seen are labelled "Hydroleca". I'm going to soak it for a week to see if it alters the pH or anything else and then try it in a nano planted tank (ambitious or what?:D :D )

How come everythings bagged up these days? years ago I used to buy this stuff by the pound from the local pet/gardening shop.

[firetank]

i dont think itll alter the ph, mines been in a good 3\4 weeks, and gh\kh\ph are a ll round the same levels before i used it.

i have a feeling it may be too lite to use, unless its under gravel\sand etc...

its in bags cause 1)its easier to mass produce(retailers prefer it...)
2) so people like u and i cant buy a handful at a time!!!

btw its the same stuff renamed./...

[Gumby7]

FWIW perlite and vermiculite are not the same thing. They are used for more or less the same purpose for potted plants (terrestrial) - lighten the soil matrix and retain some moisture. How they differ when used in a tank is something I never want to experience.

Vermiculite is a mineral (similar to mica) expanded using high heat.

Perlite is something else.

My $0.02

Gumby

[firetank]

this link show the differences between perl and verm in a tank.

both are available in different size grades, which may help.

http://www.aquabotanic.com/sfintro.htm