what is this??? i know its a substrate but what is so good about it? how is it good for plants???
flourite
- Thread starter LMOUTHBASS
- Start date
This is taken from the Seachem website.
Flourite™ is a specially fracted stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. Although it may be mixed with other gravels, Flourite™ is best used as an integral substrate bed. Any mixture should be at least half Flourite™. Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary. Flourite™ is not chemically coated or treated, and will not alter the pH of the water. Although pre-washed, it should be rinsed before use to remove residual dust. Slight initial cloudiness is normal and will clear rapidly. Each 7 kg (15.4 lbs) bag is sufficient for about a 2 inch deep bed in a typical 10 gallon tank. Recommended use is 1 kg for about each 200 cm2 (31 in2) of tank bottom.
Flourite™ is a specially fracted stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. Although it may be mixed with other gravels, Flourite™ is best used as an integral substrate bed. Any mixture should be at least half Flourite™. Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary. Flourite™ is not chemically coated or treated, and will not alter the pH of the water. Although pre-washed, it should be rinsed before use to remove residual dust. Slight initial cloudiness is normal and will clear rapidly. Each 7 kg (15.4 lbs) bag is sufficient for about a 2 inch deep bed in a typical 10 gallon tank. Recommended use is 1 kg for about each 200 cm2 (31 in2) of tank bottom.
tricksterpup
It's SPRING!!! BUNNIE RABBITS
I like flourite and use it in a couple of my tanks, In my 55 planted tank, it is a mix with flint stone and my 10 gallon its a full flourite tank. (my only problem with that tank is that my flag fish rip up my plants to spawn.)
jim
jim
I've used flourite, but I'm much more impressed by Shultz's Aquatic Soil (Profile). It is less than half the cost, can be found at Home Depot, and looks better IMO. It is finer grained than Flourite and is one consistent red/brown/terra cotta color.
Just something I though I'd tell you to look into
It has the same plant nutrient qualities and is also natural and will not affect your water parameters.
~Leopardess~
Edit: Also, after just a quick rinse, Profile will settle within an hour or two (at least mine in the 55g did) - unlike flourite.
Just something I though I'd tell you to look into
It has the same plant nutrient qualities and is also natural and will not affect your water parameters.
~Leopardess~
Edit: Also, after just a quick rinse, Profile will settle within an hour or two (at least mine in the 55g did) - unlike flourite.
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Flourite is a great substrate. I just wanted to post because it's widely known how cloudy Flourite makes the water when you first fill it up.
Well I just started a brand new 55 gallon tank.....and had absolutely NO CLOUDING!!! First I added LOTS of mulm from other tanks. Then added 1 large handful of pre-boiled peat to the bottom of the tank. Thirdly I started rinsing the gravel. I added 5 bags after I rinsed in the following way. I used a paint strainer (the firm kind that lays in the top of a 5 gallon bucket) and filled it halfway with flourite. Then poured water from the garden hose through it until the bucket was filled with cloudy water. I did this until 2 1/2 bags were rinsed and I had the rinsed flourite filling up another 5 gallon bucket. I then poured water into this bucket (already full of flourite) and dumped out as much water as I could. I then laid this on the bottom of the tank. This layer still had plenty of "dust" particles (which are high in nutrients).
For the top half of the gravel bed, I Did the same routine with the paint strainer, but when I had rinsed all the flourite, I then poured about 1/4 bucket of the flourite at a time back into the (cleaned out) rinsing bucket, and swished water around in it and dumped it out twice. After all this was done. I laid it on top of the other gravel. I then laid a small (almost flat ) saucer on the gravel and SLOWLY started to fill it up. If you fill slowly enough you will have ZERO CLOUDING!! My tank has been clear since day one! Of course it does cloud a bit when I disturb the gravel, but quickly settles back down.
Well I just started a brand new 55 gallon tank.....and had absolutely NO CLOUDING!!! First I added LOTS of mulm from other tanks. Then added 1 large handful of pre-boiled peat to the bottom of the tank. Thirdly I started rinsing the gravel. I added 5 bags after I rinsed in the following way. I used a paint strainer (the firm kind that lays in the top of a 5 gallon bucket) and filled it halfway with flourite. Then poured water from the garden hose through it until the bucket was filled with cloudy water. I did this until 2 1/2 bags were rinsed and I had the rinsed flourite filling up another 5 gallon bucket. I then poured water into this bucket (already full of flourite) and dumped out as much water as I could. I then laid this on the bottom of the tank. This layer still had plenty of "dust" particles (which are high in nutrients).
For the top half of the gravel bed, I Did the same routine with the paint strainer, but when I had rinsed all the flourite, I then poured about 1/4 bucket of the flourite at a time back into the (cleaned out) rinsing bucket, and swished water around in it and dumped it out twice. After all this was done. I laid it on top of the other gravel. I then laid a small (almost flat ) saucer on the gravel and SLOWLY started to fill it up. If you fill slowly enough you will have ZERO CLOUDING!! My tank has been clear since day one! Of course it does cloud a bit when I disturb the gravel, but quickly settles back down.
I prefer Flourite for a planted tank substrate. Or Flourite mixed with a "natural" gravel. Sumpin'fishy's technique is excellent for avoiding excessive fines and dust in the top layer.
The uniformity of Profile's color is one of the things I don't like about it - it looks as artificial as dye coated aquarium gravel. It also is not as dense as Flourite.
The uniformity of Profile's color is one of the things I don't like about it - it looks as artificial as dye coated aquarium gravel. It also is not as dense as Flourite.
Profile is also much lighter, so it doesn't hold plants as well, and some always get sucked up when I am doing even very light cleaning of the gravel. THe color is also not as nice IMO either. I ended putting like 2-3 inches of profile down and topped it with Flourite. Kind of a best of both worlds deal.
But, I still think nothing beats 100% Flourite for plants.
But, I still think nothing beats 100% Flourite for plants.