best way to lay substrait

[RockabillyChick]

wow, thanks for the tip len. i will definately look for it

 

[twig]

http://www.hallman.org/plant/gravel.html

 

[RockabillyChick]

so essentially they use flourite and vermiculite. sorry but there's no way, no how, i'm using dirt from outside. i don't know what kind of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, parasites, bacteria, or bugs are in it.

 

[gagaliya]

best substrate: http://www.adgshop.com/Substrate_System_s/1.htm

 

[RockabillyChick]

eco complete is not available locally and i'm not going to pay a ton for the product, plus a ton more to have it shipped.

that applies to anything, not just eco complete

 

[Goatman]

The litter I used, as specified, is called Special Kitty litter. It is plain clay, no additives. I have heard though, that west of the mississippi there is a different clay mine, so you should test it for pH/kH changes before using it in your tank. Just put a bit in an empty bottle, add water, test it in the morning. Also, I don't suggest using gravel, as there is never a compact seal over the clay. If you really want gravel as opposed to sand as a top layer, put it over the sand layer, not in lieu of it.

 

[RockabillyChick]

i just thought gravel because its a similar grain size as the clay chunks and won't tend to mix as bad as sand would. i'd be afraid the sand would all fall to the bottom.

 

[Goatman]

The cat litter hasn't been fired, so it becomes a silty mess of slip clay if you don't have something heavy and relatively fine on top to cap it. The sand won't fall down through it.

 

[twig]

Akadama is Japanese soil that contains 0% organics (it has been fired in an oven) and it's commonly used in Bonsai. I wonder if that'd be better than kitty litter.

 

[RockabillyChick]

ok, so just some cat litter, and some root tabs? or could i sprinkle just a little dry ferts through the cat litter instead, and some lateralite. then cover it with sand.