I am trying to plan out my planted tank build. I found a substrate mix on a diy forum that is as follows:
layer 1 thin layer maybe 1/2"
cat litter 35%
red clay 35%
azomite 15%
osmocoat plus 15%
Latrite (1 box)
layer 2 not too thick 2"max
mgocpm 90%
dolomite 2.5%
peat granuals 5%
azomite 2.5%
Not sure what I will use for a cap but I know it needs one...
A little about the tank I am setting up....I plan to just go with low light plants at the moment (broke college student graduating nursing school in Dec! woohoo!) I have a 55g hex and a 75g (4ft) tank, not sure which one I will set up first though. Probably the 75g. I will be upgrading lighting next year but I don't plan to upgrade to co2.
So I guess my questions are:
1. Will there be significant growth difference with the diy substrate versus the prepackaged?
2. Is it silly to go through all that diy mixing for just low light plants?
3. I know I should plant as many plants as I can before I fill with water but how much of a pain is it to add plants to the diy substrate after it is filled with water and has fish in it? Will it make the tank water extra dirty?
4. Where would I get the red clay? That's the only one I couldn't find when I looked them up online.
Thanks! I think that's it for now
Becky
layer 1 thin layer maybe 1/2"
cat litter 35%
red clay 35%
azomite 15%
osmocoat plus 15%
Latrite (1 box)
layer 2 not too thick 2"max
mgocpm 90%
dolomite 2.5%
peat granuals 5%
azomite 2.5%
Not sure what I will use for a cap but I know it needs one...
A little about the tank I am setting up....I plan to just go with low light plants at the moment (broke college student graduating nursing school in Dec! woohoo!) I have a 55g hex and a 75g (4ft) tank, not sure which one I will set up first though. Probably the 75g. I will be upgrading lighting next year but I don't plan to upgrade to co2.
So I guess my questions are:
1. Will there be significant growth difference with the diy substrate versus the prepackaged?
2. Is it silly to go through all that diy mixing for just low light plants?
3. I know I should plant as many plants as I can before I fill with water but how much of a pain is it to add plants to the diy substrate after it is filled with water and has fish in it? Will it make the tank water extra dirty?
4. Where would I get the red clay? That's the only one I couldn't find when I looked them up online.
Thanks! I think that's it for now
Becky