daltons Aquatic mix

[Cheesejawa]

Any experience with this?

Can you get from garden centres? or mitre ten?

Is it possible to add to to an already set up tank with water it?

[paekakboyz]

I'd say you need to start a new tank with this stuff. It is essentially a clay mix and when disturbed in the water it makes a real mess.

I got a 10kg bag from Bunnings for less that $15 dollars (for a 350litre tank 120*50*60).

I laid about 1cm of gravel at the bottom (for the larger plants to grab into) then 2-3cm of the aquatic mix followed by 5-6cm of gravel. You need to make sure it is well covered by gravel.

Usual process of being careful not to disturb the gravel etc when filling the tank! you can easily siphon away any clay dust once it settles on top of the gravel again but its better to avoid it if possible!

I've found it works really well - you need to be gentle moving plants with large roots (swords etc) as that will disturb the mix as well but otherwise its been really good.

My tank is pretty heavily planted and that's using only aquatic mix as the fert and lightining (no CO2 etc). It was easy to setup but if I do decide to make any major changes I'd have to start over (remove and wash gravel - get 'fresh' aquatic mix etc).

good luck!

[Adrienne]

You have to add this first as it is like clay. I got mine from Bunnings and Kings Plant Barn up here. Mixed it up with Daltons propagating sand.

IME when you want to get it out its hard work. I wouldn't use it again, makes cleaning the tanks harder as if you need to do a deep clean of the gravel you stir it up.

[supasi]

I use it on all my planted tanks.

Great product in my opinion.

Pretty much impossible to add to an existing tank for the reasons stated above. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/50-lit ... 21056.html

Thats a link to one of my previous posts.

Adodge mentioned she mixed with prop sand. I wouldnt do this , i would layer prop sand on top. the plants send roots down into it.