Perlite ≈ Vermiculite???

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Glenstorm

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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
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
*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......
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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