Seachem Flourite Substrate

[jefft]

Does this stuff need to be replaced after a certain time period? I've had it in my tank for a little over 3 1/2 years and my plants are doing worse and worse over time, and I'm wondering if the minerals and iron have been reduced over the years due to cleanings, etc? I never did have much light (1 watt/gallon) so I finally upgraded to over 3 watts/gallon thinking that would do the trick, but it did nothing for the plants. I do weekly water changes and use fertilizer as well.

Any advise/help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Captain Hook]

There really hasn't been a ton of research on this subject but I think Seachem has pretty much said it should last forever. I have read that people have it in their tanks since it first came out (anyone know how long ago, roughly?) and still seeing great results.

 

[RTR]

The fact that Flourite does not have to be replaced does not in any way mean that you do not have to supplement macronutrients, micronutrients, and a carbon source. So, are you adding CO2 (or Excel), macros and traces?

 

[DIYMatt]

I think you may have other issues than the substrate. But, I have had a 60/40 Flourite to gravel mix in a tank for almost four years now and it seems to me the root feeders aren't doing as well so I started adding Flourish root tabs and the swords, crypts and Barclaya are back to where they were.

I don't fully understand Flourite, but how can it be used forever? If the plants are using nutrients from it, shouldn't it run out at some point? Someone in the know let me know. Thanks!

 

[RTR]

DIYMatt - I responded in the post directly over yours. Nobody, certainly not Seachem, ever said the Flourite or any other substrate has the nutrients any tank will need forever. Exactly as no potting soil does for houseplants, nor for that matter any garden soil.

Flourite has effectively eternal iron for good root-feeders, but not for water-column feeders (most stem plants), beyond that you must supplement. Flourite has near-ideal structure and CEC, that is its strength.

 

[125gJoe]

The chemical "make-up" or manufacture of SeaChem's Flourite and Onyx make this the ideal substrate for planted tanks. No one knows for sure about the 'life span' of these products.

 

[Raithan Ellis]

Well, as long as Flourite continues to have a good CEC (cation exchange capacity), which should be a very long time, it should last indefinitely. The CEC is only good when it has nutrients in storage, for nutrients to be there waiting for the plants to uptake them, you need to supply them and not merely via just the water column. There are some good methods for making your own PMDD substrate fertilizers.

Also, I often will take a small section of my Flourite into a bucket with every waterchange and give it a good rinse. I've got this thing about fired clay being porous and becoming clogged with mulm and nasties, so over the corse of 6 or so months I've gone the entire substrate of a tank about once through. I don't know if it helps with it's ability to adsorb nutrients or not, but it could be worth a shot to clean your substrate or a good once over with the gravel vac.

Regards,
Raithan O. Ellis

 

[jefft]

Thanks to everybody who provided feedback, greatly appreciated. I posted the same question in a different forum and not one person replied.

Anyhow, just trying to narrow down the problem, but it doesn't sound like it's the substrate. Thanks again.

Jeff

 

[anonapersona]

Light changes

How long ago was the light changed?

I just got a copy of Aquarium Plant Paradise, in it Amano says. "Moreover, frequently changing colors of light injures the plant and can even kill them [regarding red plants and the effect of light spectrum]. The reason for this is that besides cholrophyll, the green leaf pigment, additional plant pigments corresponding to the spectrum of light provided are produced, which can occur unproblematically only in young leaves. Therefore, when the light is changed the old leaves are dropped and new leaves are formed."

Perhaps someof what you are seeing is the effect of the old leaves failing and then new leaves produced not getting sufficient nutrition?

 

[Sumpin'fishy]

I think that perhaps another contributing effect to dwindling plant growth is the fact that regardless of what substrate used, plants will eventually become root-bound and stop growing as well. A solution to the problem is to remove the plants from 1/4 of the gravel and do a thourough gravel vac of the area, goint to the bottom glass. You can then replant this with newer plants or new cuttings. Older swordplants and plants with massive root structures should probably be discarded at this point. Wait 3 to 6 months and do the next 1/4 of the tank, repeating until the entire gravel has been cleaned in alternating periods. This has been known to re-invigorate plant growth and things can resume indefinately with periodic gravel cleanings.

Some suggest to do this after 1 1/2 to 2 years from startup, but I would think it is based on your plants and lighting. I plan to do this to my setup when I see growth slow down. Tom Barr (aka Plantbrain) is an excellent source (as are several others), and he is one who suggests this proceedure. Hope this is of some help.