So im new and starting up my 1st palnted aquaria. I would like to find out if there is a cheaper alternative to ADA Aquasoil? SAS
ive used inert substrate to great effect. check my old tank http://www.apsa.co.za/board/http://www.apsa.co.za/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1 basically pea sized round inert substrate is what you are looking for. cap that over volcanic rock dust, earth worm castings, hydroton and guanosoil. this has worked really great for me. but rem that the ingredients at the bottom are a thin thin layer at the bottom only.
I also came accross florite black. Do you have any experience with it? I like the idea of black substrate... SAS
The mafia will probebly shoot me for this but you can look at microbe lift plant substrate. Been using it for about a year now with good results. This with a Trevor pleco move by adding some osmocote in there and maybe a little earthworm castings at the bottom. We'll that is my thoughts for a future setup as well. Aquasoil excellent product and have it in one of my tanks. But on bigger tanks it just becomes to expensive for me.
I'm using Flourite Black sand in two of my tanks. Absolutely love it. Can be tricky if you need to vacuum it, as the sand sucks up rather quickly. But I find with good flow and filtration a "gravel vac" isn't even needed. Go lookie at this: http://www.apsa.co.za/board/http://www.apsa.co.za/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6
Aquasoil is more expensive than other substrate but you get more value for money. its a larger volume than flourite so on bigger tanks it actually works you out cheaper than flourite as you need less bags
Do you add nutriants or use it just as it is? I can get a bag of aquasoil for R500 but the florite black is R380 for a bag SAS
Re: Re: Aquasoil Alternative? +1 you can work the amount of bags you need out by the length x width x substrate depth you want as the ADA is in liters.
Agreed. If you are only starting out and don't have the money or are not sure if planted tanks are for you then silica gravel/pool filter sand is a seriously cheap option (R90/40kg) and does work with most plants. I have had planted tanks since about August last year and I'm currently still happy with PFS.
Not a big fan of black sand personally, love the regular Flourite though and would be the only alternative I'd consider where singular "ready made" plant substrates are concerned.
Have a read through this thread if you haven't already. As mentioned, Tropica is a base layer that needs to be capped with sand or fine gravel, so not exactly a one bag alternative. You also can't really reuse it as you can with Flourite and to some extend, Aquasoil.
