Lateralite and Fluorite

[kingkano]

I am wanting to setup a really heavily planted tank for Dwarf Puffers, ala Takashi Amano style.

I've read about Lateralite (sp) and Fluorite, but being in the UK never seen them anywhere. Can anyone point me somewhere that explains what each is and how to use them/how they work, and what the difference is???

Also, any other UK bods, do you know where I can get some mailorder, or in the south east??

I was considering using a heating cable in 1" of silver sand, then mixed very fine gravel (maybe silica grit) with fluorite/lateralite, toped with 1-2" of the gravel (or perhaps sand?!?! can't decide here!!).

Help?!?!

Thanks

ken

 

[Lateral Line]

Laterite is a red/brown iron rich otherwise relatively neutral tropical clay soil type found over vast tracts of the world. As far as I can tell, Fluorite is a commercial product that is made from fired laterite, (real fluorite is a crystalline mineral basically CaF2 - which would be neutral, but largely useless in a tank).

I have used laterite on the bottom of tanks, but also have not, and grown plants just as well, if you are using root feeding plants, just use a good quality pelleted fertiliser tablet. I used to be able to get laterite powder in England from Everglades Aquatic Supplies, but I can't find a link. It was called "Everite No1" came in a bright green box. There is a laterite product available here but I've never used it so can't recommend it etc.

I have tried under tank heater pads, and Denerrle in substrate heater cables. I've read the theory, I know how they are supposed to work but I have never found they made any difference.

Trying to create a layered substrate is almost always a waste of time, the stuff mixes with the action of fish, plant roots, cleaning, whatever.

Silver sand in my opinion, packs down to hard. For the last 10+ years, I have used swimming pool filter sand. It has a more even grain size and shape and does not pack down to the same extent as other sands. Whichever sand you use, remember to keep it open to prevent anaerobic areas developing, (I poke mine about with a chopstick).

Light and CO2 are the 2 most important things to get right, the substrate and gimmickary only give you another couple of percent.

 

[endparenthesis]

There's some useful input in here... I wonder if we should collect some of it and make a "Substrate" sticky...

 

[kingkano]

Cheers very useful info.

What about eco-complete???

I really want something in between sand and gravel, about 2mm, and so I am looking for silica grit now. THough I fear it will be rough edged and not very nice for my puffers.

I usually use MTS in my other sand tanks to aerate the substrate, but this being a puffer tank (and DPs are that) I cant/wont use them this time. SO I AM worried about the anaerobic thing.....

good idea on the sticky

ken

 

[tstenback]

Here is one article and here is another HTH

 

[kingkano]

cheers very useful!!!

I did find a mail order UK place to get all of the above now. so I just gotta find out the advantages of each and choose! lol.

eco-complete looks great as its black and quite fine (anybody know how fine??) but then fluorite is also nice as I can pick my own substrate and mix it in the bottom a bit (and its cheaper, I dont have to go mad on it!).

 

[jams.alaskan]

I have eco complete - it was the easiest substrate to use. However, I wouldn't describe it as "fine". It layers itself, finer to the bottom, larger up top. It is light so in no way does it pack down, I think that it is a little more rough then I would want for a cory cat, they are in there but I'm sure they would have prefered sand. Eco complete is attractive but not the easiest to keep clean, if you want all the waste and pelleted food that isn't sucked up right away to go down to your roots this is the stuff for you! Nothing stays on the top, it's quite porous (sp) and most everything filters right through. I am happy with it as it seems to keep the plants happy. My tank with it has only been going for 3 plus months so ask me how the plants like it in two years...

ALASKA

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> looking for silica grit now

I would be inclined to agree, it tends to have sharp edges and is probably not suitable for the purpose.

MTS will probably not work for obvious reasons! As long as you use something that is not to fine, and has a regular grain size, anaerobic problems are not great. With regular sand, the smaller grains fill in the gaps between the larger, thus the possibility for any circulation is reduced. Even grain size don't do that - get a jar and fill it with balls the same size - lots of space, try the same with a mixture and you'll see the difference.

>>> It layers itself, finer to the bottom,

This is the effect I am trying to describe! The smaller bits fill in the gaps thus sink through the bed over time. I've never used eco-complete so won't comment further.

>>> Nothing stays on the top,

This is another thing I like about sand, okay you can see the crud, but HEY! you can see the crud so you can use a dip tube and remove it before it starts to rot and fester!!!

 

[AW0L]

i have a 150 gallon heavly planted tank. with a a varity of loaches, so snails are not a option for me. what i have been using are banjo cats and cory cats to shift through the substrate which is a lighter type of laterlite but has a high CEC , so it might not have the mineral count as the other substrates the high CEC makes up for it in the long run. its a very light stuff thats light anuff for my loaches,corys and banjo cats to dig or swim through. rember some aerobic zones are ok and neccesary in a planted tank. heavy root feeders with advance roots can get rid of aerobic zones also.

 

[Colin_BC]

I have two 7kg bags of fluorite in my 30G. I switched to this from plain blue gravel. the plants seem to like it, and I'm quite happy with it. The plants are growing well. I've taken cuttings from my Limnophila several times in the last month alone and can't tell the cutting from the mom. Mind you when I bought the fluorite I had also added CO2 the same wekend, but I'm happy with both. Fluorite is all I've used, and I'm sticking with it for my next aquariums......

........However, in the end lighting, fertilizer, and CO2 will make a greater impact than the substrates in terms of plant health and growth in your aqaurium.

Colin