Laterite my best option?

bazil323

bazil323

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May 1, 2008
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Wisconsin
Okay, I just set up my 75 gallon, in which I'm going to have some various low/med light plants. I've got Windelov (lace) Java fern and moss, dwarf sag, bacopa monnieri, najas (guppy) grass, an anubia (nana, maybe?) and a plethora of duckweed. I'm planning on getting more, but I haven't decided what to get.

I have a gravel substrate, but I want to add something to help the plants. I added laterite to the tank that is currently housing the above plants, and the dwarf sag and bacopa monnieri seem to love it. I have a small amount, maybe 20 ounces, left over that I could add to the 75g, but I'd have to order more online since none of the lfs around here carry it.

Should I bother with the laterite or just dose with liquid ferts or root tabs?
 
I've never found substrate to be a huge factor in plant growth. I have and do use Flourite in mixes in my tanks, but more because I think it estetically pleasing. As long as your not using marbles or large diameter stones, you should be ok.

I believe that as long as you are getting your ferts into the water column, the substrate shouldn't matter too much. Although for heavy root feeders, plant tabs shoved down into the gravel are appreciated.
 
I layered in laterite in my 10g, and I think it's helped the rooted plants do quite well.
 
Yeah, that's what I'm worried about too. I really thoroughly gravel vac the whole tank (except for where rooted plants are) at every wc, so the gravel really gets mixed up. Although what I did with the other tanks was to mix the laterite with the gravel since I already had gravel in there. So I could do that. It kinda looked cool in the other tanks, but since my goal was to have a dark substrate, maybe not. I don't know.

I know fluorite comes in a dark mix, so could I mix that with my existing gravel in the 75? I have about 1.5" of gravel right now since I don't really like such a deep substrate. How much fluorite would I need if I did that? A 20 pound bag?
 
I think you may find that deeper substrate makes for easier planting.
I had slightly over 1.5" of gravel and plants were easily uprooted by my over zealous BN.. I added a bunch of eco complete and the plats stay rooted much better.
 
OK, I'll think about adding some then. Perhaps I should add my stocking?

I have 2 L387 plecos, which are very laid back so far. They pretty much just stay in their hiding spots until they come out to eat and then go right back. Maybe that will change in the big tank with more decor (the smaller tank had plenty of decor, but little floor space). They haven't touched a single plant, yet. We'll see how that goes.

I also have 6 kribs and 19 diamond tetras. I have a ton of MTS, a few pond snails, and a few cherry shrimp. The diamonds are between 3/4" and 1.5" right now. Two of kribs are a pair (as far as I can tell) and are 2" and 1.5". The other 4 are between 1" and 1.5". I will also be moving my male molly into this tank tonight since I'm sick of multiplying mollies.

I'm thinking about getting a honey gourami or three (or possibly flame dwarf gouramis if I can't find honeys) and maybe an angel, but I'm going to wait a bit to see how the current stocking works since they've only been in there a short time and will grow more.
 
Oh, I'm leaning more towards getting dark/black fluorite since it seems like it would mix better with the black and navy blue gravel that I have now. Plus, I think one of the lfs actually carry it while none carry laterite or onyx (that I know of).

I think I read something about onyx buffering the water. What, exactly, does it do?
 
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