Plant Substrate

[neilanh]

I'd just go ahead if you're not changing the filtration and swap it all out. If you're applying the aqua soil to an established tank make sure to rinse it really, really well. it's quite dusty out of the bag and will cloud your aquarium very heavily.

[Mopedman]

So is it actually soil or is it fine rocks?

[Purrbox]

Aquasoil is closer to soil than rocks, but really isn't either. It does degrade over time, so it needs to be replaced periodically. If you tend to replant often, you'll need to replace it sooner than if you simply plant and leave it be.

If you don't have a Lesco near you, you can also check Profile's website for information on where to purchase Turface in your area.

[neilanh]

Here's a macro shot of the Soilmaster Select. As I understand it, the turface MVP is very similiar to this.

[pitt420dude]

Great shot neil. From everything I heard they're identical, both in appearance and composition.

[JohnPaul]

FWIW, I used Eco-Complete in a 29 gal relatively low-light tank (~ 1.5 wpg) and the plants in there seemed to thrive. I would occasionally dose a little bit of liquid ferts (Flourish Excel) but not very often, yet my plants grew well.

I also had a smaller 10g tank where I used an inert sand substrate (black Tahitian Moon Sand) which was put over a very small layer of pure laterite. This was a higher light tank (~ 3 wpg), but never dosed with any ferts. I had a couple swords in there that did very well, and java moss that grew like crazy...but my crypts always failed. They would *seem* to do well initiall, even put out runners with new little plants...but eventually they would just wither and go kaput.

[kimo]

"I went onto LESCO.com and I guess you have to be a contractor to get the Turface pro league from them. I will look into the Soil and Home Depot as I am just starting out so I need to get the hang of it anyhow. Since I am putting this into an established tank would it be ok to just take the old gravel out with everything in it and put the new stuff in since the bacteria is in my filters or should I do a half and half thing?"

Unless you rinse your new substrate well, and add it and the water back in very carefully, you will end up with a cloudy mess. It can be done but takes patience.

"I had a couple swords in there that did very well, and java moss that grew like crazy...but my crypts always failed. They would *seem* to do well initiall, even put out runners with new little plants...but eventually they would just wither and go kaput."

Your crypts failed because you didn't fertilize and your other plants soaked up all the nutrients. The crypts starved.

[Purrbox]

Originally Posted by kimo

"I had a couple swords in there that did very well, and java moss that grew like crazy...but my crypts always failed. They would *seem* to do well initiall, even put out runners with new little plants...but eventually they would just wither and go kaput."

Your crypts failed because you didn't fertilize and your other plants soaked up all the nutrients. The crypts starved.

Actually the crypts may have been fine. Crypts are very sensitive to changes in water quality (good or bad) and will simply melt. This is commonly referred to as Crypt Melt. If you're not familiar with this, it's easy to mistake them for dead. As long as the rhizome isn't mushy, given some time, the crypts almost always come back better than before.

[p3purr]

John Deere took over Lesco and SMS is no longer available.