SpidersWeb Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Can you use compost under gravel? What about top soil? What other cheap alternatives are there for a planted substrate that will fertilise root feeders? I know JBL 7 balls are good, just would prefer a proper substrate too but dont want to pay for Daltons Aquatic mix etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Compost will put too much soluble nutrient into the water and cause algae problems. I have used peat in the past for some plants but you only want a little and I probably causes more problems than it is worth. Although I haven't used it Daltons aquatic mix is probably the cheapest and tends to be prefered by a number of people here. Too much organic material under the media tends to go anaerobic and cause problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Thanks, I'll cross that off my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 couple of my tanks have a thick layer of peat but its for plecos so i wanted the really soft tanned water. it really doesn't get much cheaper than Daltons Aquatic mix [$10 for a 15 litres?] whats the tank size u want to cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Oh wow, didn't think it was that cheap, nevermind :oops: Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 it really doesn't get much cheaper than Daltons Aquatic mix [$10 for a 15 litres?] whats the tank size u want to cover? Yup, like he said. Spider, if you have any left over after you're done let me know. I'll need a LOT of that stuff soon. At that price there's no going wrong even if you have 10L sitting around anyways. PS- Hardware shops are the place to get Daltons. Mitre 10 Mega always has it sitting around in the gardening section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Compare the price of Daltons aquatic mix with JBL micronutrient (which does the same thing) and you might be pleasantly surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Daltons it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 i personally dont like the yellow clay color look so i mix it with Daltons propagating sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted February 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 I was going to put my black gravel back over the top, otherwise the clown loaches will just rip everything up, that does sound like a nice mix tho Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Hi Fishboi, I'm in Auckland too. Where do you get your Daltons Aquatic mix from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 King's Plant Barn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiuh Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 i making putting dalton aquatic mix as base and then dalton propogation sand on top. haha...this way....the brown colour of aquatic will be at the bottom layer. then i push plants root right up to the aquatic mix base. plants will feed off that. plus with propogation sand my hair roots really started to spread out ....unlike the one with the odinary fish gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 If you put a narrow strip of the top covering material along the front as well as over the top no one will know what is underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 If you put a narrow strip of the top covering material along the front as well as over the top no one will know what is underneath. so simple, now why haven't i thought of that :roll: thanks alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 i just picked up 2 bags of the daltons aquatic mix for two 4ft tanks. there may be some left over if anyone wants it. don't think i'll really need the leftovers as i won't be upgrading the tanks til i move. does kings sell daltons propogation sand? i couldn't find it at the silverdale store. i was planning on using brightwater gravel mixed with small riverstones and a layer of propogation sand between the aquatic mix and the gravel. still not sure about it tho. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Rockerpeller, I was in Palmers Garden Centre, Orakei today and they have the Daltons Propergating? Sand $9.99 for 20 Litres. Try your nearest Palmers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted February 3, 2007 Report Share Posted February 3, 2007 cheers adodge. i'll give them ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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