alternative substrate

happychem

happychem

redorkulated
Dec 9, 2003
2,152
5
0
Halifax, NS
Visit site
I'm looking for suggestions on an inexpensive substrate for a planted aquarium(and where it's available) in Atlantic Canada. All the posts and info I can find have been very helpful, but I can't find brands like "Hartz pH5" in Halifax. I'm looking for Schultz's clay conditioner, but no luck so far finding a store that carries it.

I've got a 33g that I'm going to set up in the new year. It will house the current occupants of my 10g: some albino corys, an ever increasing number of swordtails, a couple plecos and some tetras.

I'll probably use "play sand" as a top layer, I'm looking for a good lower layer.

I'll be building my own canopy to add 2x 30W to the existing 20W that came with the tank. That should cover the lighting, now all I need is a good substrate. I'll worry about ferts. later.
 
I found Profile Aquatic Soil (same thing as Schultz) at Canadian Tire in the garden/pond section. However I think they usually close these areas over winter so you could have a problem finding them. I've also heard you can large (ie. 50 pounds) bags of silica sand from Home Depot for cheap, like under 10 bucks.
 
I just walked out onto the beach... I know I have enough iron in the tank, at least :)

Mind you, as my 'first experience' with plants... I'm not having much luck... but I'm learning!
 
You'll do pretty well with your plan so far, the amount of light that you are adding is perfect.

Get some profile/aquatic plant soil etc, mix with 2-3mm dia sand etc(Hopefully similar color).

Also, when you do this, buy some ground peat, add about 2 handfuls to the bottom of the AP soil/sand mix. Also vacuum your tank out before, save all the dirt that settles in the bottom of the bucket, add that dirt back to the bottom layer of the substrate.

This will cycle your tank immediately and aid in starting your tank up.

You do these 2 things, you will be doing much better.
You can add DIY CO2 and work on that next and should be getting closer to having each component that makes plants thrive.

After CO2, substrate and light, all that's really left are nutrients.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
Thanks Tom,

I'll get some peat, I was considering it, but there seemd to be some debate about the amount of organics, two handfuls sounds good for the tank size.

Just to clarify. When you say vacuum before, and return that which gathers at the bottom of the bucket to the bottom substrate, do you mean that I should add water before I add the upper substrate? Otherwise how am I going to get it back to the bottom?

I was planning on DIY CO2 (actually I think that I'm almost as keen about building it as the results). I'm thinking along this timeline, if I could get some feedback on it, I would appreciate it.

-set up substrate, lighting & CO2
-after about a week, add plants (hoping for stable pH and alkalinity from CO2 injection). I think I should have a steady state after a week and I can buffer with a sulfate or borate, or just go to the pet store. Comments/suggested buffers?
-2 to 3 weeks later, add fish one species every day or so
 
Do this:

Add the dirt/mulm from the vacuuming to the bottom layer with the peat, mix in 1 inch worth of Profile/Turface/Aquatic plant soil stuff/sand mix with this. then cap with 2-3 inches of the Profile/T/APS.

Then slowly add water.

You want live bacteria going into the bottom of the gravel. This will cycled the tank immeditately.

Add plants right away. Always add plants right away when setting up a tank and get lots and lots of plants.

Add algae eaters in a day or two, add main fish about a month or two later.

As far as buffers, do you even need any?
Buy a KH and GH test kit ot test the tap at the LFS.

If it's at/above 3 degrees, you are fine.


Regards,
Tom Barr
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom