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Add Laterite To Substrate? | |
Brian1216 Hobbyist Posts: 97 Votes: 0 Registered: 28-Apr-2005 | I am upgrading my lighting in my 29G from 40W to a CF 65W light fixture. Right now i have low light plants in regular gravel but want to start getting into more plants and especially medium light ones. Should i add laterite to my existing gravel or just leave things as is? I'm not going to use CO2 but want to have the best growth i can get from the extra light, ferts and possibly the substrate. If i do get Laterite can i just put it into the tank and mix it in with my existing gravel or do i have to take all the gravel out and then put in a bottom la |
Posted 06-Mar-2007 03:49 | |
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002 | Hi, Laterite is a clay and when whetted it will form an opaque, brown, cloudy mess. The only way to "add" it is to strip out the tank and then add the laterite as a inch and a half la is called a "cap la (preferably gravel.) The cap la on top of the clay la Then, place a dinner plate atop of the gravel and slowly add the water till the tank is about half full. Plant your plants by adding them to the gravel la the clay la want them and don't keep uprooting them and moving them. Once the tank is planted, with the plate back in place add water till the tank is filled. Be sure to pour the water in atop of the plate. That will dissipate the current so the clay is not disturbed. Once things take hold, you must be careful when vacuuming the gravel so you do NOT penetrate the clay la the plant roots will grow through the gravel into the clay la clay particles up thorough the gravel into the water column where it will turn the water brown and cloudy. Several large water changes will eventually thin the cloud out, but it will take weeks to become clear again. The only other way is to use a diatom filter. They will clean the tank in a hour or so. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<-- |
Posted 06-Mar-2007 04:57 | |
Brian1216 Hobbyist Posts: 97 Votes: 0 Registered: 28-Apr-2005 | Frank, i'd rather not tear up the tank like that so is there anything else i could add to the existing gravel or do i really even need an additional/better substrate? Thanks for the help. |
Posted 06-Mar-2007 18:06 | |
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002 | Hi Brian, No, actually there is not much that you can do to the tank at this stage. Virtually all of the substrates that are available will make a cloudy mess of your tank. My only suggestion would be to use liquid fertilizers such as the Flourish or Tetra-min brands. For the heavy root feeders such as Amazon Sword plants, use plant tablets, plant balls, or plant sticks, pushed into the gravel near the plants to enrich the substrate. Be sure to read the containers and follow the directions. Remember, even though it is a X gallon tank, when you add 3-4 inches of substrate, it is no longer that same X gallon tank. It is something less as the substrate displaced the water. So your 30 gallon tank could easily be around 25 or so. Keep that in mind when dosing. Later on, when/if you do a major overhaul,is the time to look at changing out the substrate. Many use the la method, others, such as myself, use straight Sea-Chem Fluorite, or you can use one of the others such as Echo Complete, or one of the "soils" being marketed. Some of the newer substrates "wear out" after a year or two of heavy planting, and have to be replaced. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<-- |
Posted 07-Mar-2007 01:43 | |
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003 | You mentioned that you wouldn't be using CO2. Just wanted to point out that without CO2 the algae is likely to use any extra light rather then the plants. You might want to set up a DIY unit for now if you can't afford to purchase since your tank is small enough that a DIY unit will work. I second what Franks said, tearing everything apart now is going to be a lot of work just for an additional substrate. Regular gravel should be just fine, especially if it's got the fish waste down there already, simply supplimenting with root tabs as needed should do fine. ^_^ |
Posted 07-Mar-2007 02:42 |
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