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Ok I am going to be setting up a 40 gal in a couple of months. I am looking into different substrate. I would like something lighter in color but not super bright. I have been kind of looking into the special stuff but I just don't know what I am getting into. Would it be ok to mix sand and the florite/clay mix? I guess first of all I dont want a super planted tank but 3/4 heavly planted if that makes since. Here is a pic of my 20 gal. that is planted. I would like to get it a little thicker that thiis...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/20%20gallon/Barbs5.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/20%20gallon/Barbs1.jpg

Edit!!!! I hit 100 post!! Rocking good times!!

Last edited by Wingsdlc at 27-Apr-2005 00:18

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Hi,
The short answer is, Yes. You could use those combinations
of substrate for your tank. That being said:

The most common mixtures are a 50/50 mix of laterite and
gravel. Or Flourite and gravel. I have not heard of
anyone mixing laterite and flourite with gravel. Both are
rich in iron and other elements. One, flourite, is simply
laterite that has be fractionated (baked) to a brick like
consistancy and then ground into gravel size pieces.

You can use the mixture throughout the tank's bottom, or
you could simply place the 50/50 mixture in the 3/4 section
you want planted, and then cap the entire tank with an
inch and a half of regular gravel. Planted tanks are
generally about 4 inches thick with substrate. I would not
use sand as sand compacts and can cause areas of anaerobic
bacteria and hydrogen sulfide gas that are toxic to fish.

If you don't have the demarcation between the two sections
very rigid, as you vacuum the gravel, you will wind up
intermixing the boundaries and eventually bringing the
mixed substrate into the water column where it will turn
the water murky and will require a Diatom Filter to clear
up.
Mixed substrates are good.
They are not as good as a 100% tank of flourite
or echocomplete.
Mixed substrates require great care when adding water
to the tank so that you dont dig into the gravel
when pouring.
Mixed substrates require great care when planting.
Place the roots of the plants into the cap layer only
and allow the roots to grow naturally into the
bottom layer.
Mixed substrate require care when uprooting plants to
move them. When you remove an established plant, it will
bring the clay/flourite mix through the cap layer and into
the swimming space clouding the water.

Again, any time you disturb the mixed layer, it will cloud
the water and a Diatom Filter is about the only way to
make the tank water crystal clear again.

From the looks of the pictures your lighting should be fine
as the plants that you have seem to be healthy.
Personally, I'd give serious thought to using straight
flourite. Or, straight flourite for the planted section
say 3 inches thick, and then cap it with a one inch layer
of gravel, and of course the non planted area would be
regular gravel.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Fank,

Thats quite a mouth full but thanks for all the info!!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric