Planting in Flourite

Caitlin Rose · 04-30-2006, 01:10 AM

I just got a new aquarium (29 gal) and abought a bag of flourite to hopefully do better with my plants.. I haven't set up my tank yet and I was wondering about the set up. Can anyone advise me here? I am not sure if I should put it on the bottom, maybe cover the top with pea gravel/layer it between gravel/mix it with gravel/use it in small areas only around the plants etc... please help!

goodie · 04-30-2006, 10:52 AM

You could do it any way really. I put mine on the bottom with a layer of small gravel on top, but you could just use the flourite by itself or mix it with a similar sized gravel. If you ever need to rearange/replant the substrate will become mixed up anyway. As far as just placing it around the plants, I would just cover your tank bottom with it so you won't be restricted to where to put more plants or from your extra cuttings.

Caitlin Rose · 05-03-2006, 12:56 PM

Thanks for the advise! Good point about thinking ahead (starting cuttings)- I think I will mix in some of my gravel but not a lot for the bottom and then cover with a layer of the remaining gravel, and in one area sand (for my loaches). And should I rinse the flourite well, or will that lower the nutrient levels?

**JustOneMore20** · 05-03-2006, 04:40 PM

Rinse the flourite very well...or your tank will be cloudy for days. I would rinse it like 5 times.

If you could get another bag, then I would use only the flourite. Or you could just do like you said and mix it with gravel. I have about 1/3 flourite in my 55g tank and 2/3 gravel. Really I don't see a difference in plant growth in that tank compared with my other 2 tanks that have only gravel. I think a mixture of atleast half would be better...but that's just my 2 cents.

xerxeswasachump · 05-03-2006, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

Rinse the flourite very well...or your tank will be cloudy for days. I would rinse it like 5 times.

I just made that mistake with a 55 gallon. I was lazy and decided not to rinse it. After two weeks the tank is still practically opaque. Would those "water clarifier" products help? Is it even worth it?

meyerhaus · 05-04-2006, 07:17 AM

Are any of you familiar with flourite's sand product? My PetSmart has it on clearance and I was thinking about buying 3 bags for my 55 (which I can never decided whether to plant or not).

**SueM** · 05-04-2006, 07:50 AM

Yes, I've used the sand type. It is the same basic chemistry, but I prefer the
look of the larger type, and I think it gives better circulation to the plant roots.
xerxeswasachump, you can try a diatom filter, but you may consider taking it down and
rinsing the heck out of it, other wise every time you touch it, replant or vacuum you get
a super cloudy tank, I put mine in a 5 gal bucket, put a hose in the bottom full
blast, stirring it once in awhile, then let it run till the water is clear.
I use 100% fluorite, and since I started doing that, I've never had a cloudy tank.

meyerhaus · 05-04-2006, 09:21 AM

They are only asking $9.99 per bag...hard to pass up.

**Damon** · 05-04-2006, 11:27 AM

I'm not sure I'm following..........
When you say Flourite's sand product, do you mean seachem onxy sand?(Flourite is made by Seachem). I perfer it (as it is a charcoal/black color) and not nearly as messy. Flourite by itself is nice but I don't like the color. Flourite/sand is a nice mix but I wouldn't mix it with anything else. Using a good substrate alone will not make your plants grow faster or nicer. There are still other things to consider (lighting, Co2, fertilizer).

xerxeswasachump · 05-04-2006, 12:47 PM

How much is a diatom filter? Is it some kind of media that comes in a bag that i can put in my filter? Is that better than a water clarifier?

**Damon** · 05-06-2006, 04:08 PM

Diatom Filter....... ~ $100.00. The best water clarifier. Diatom is a powder that is used in special filters (you guessed it diatom filters lol). Magnum H.O.T. can also be used as diatom filters.

joe kool · 05-10-2006, 08:00 PM

so can the mag 350

04-30-2006, 01:10 AM	#1
Caitlin Rose Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bay Area California USA Age: 26 Posts: 33 User Feedback: (0)	Planting in Flourite I just got a new aquarium (29 gal) and abought a bag of flourite to hopefully do better with my plants.. I haven't set up my tank yet and I was wondering about the set up. Can anyone advise me here? I am not sure if I should put it on the bottom, maybe cover the top with pea gravel/layer it between gravel/mix it with gravel/use it in small areas only around the plants etc... please help!

04-30-2006, 10:52 AM	#2
goodie Babysitter for hire Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: S.E. MO Age: 34 Posts: 475 User Feedback: (0)	You could do it any way really. I put mine on the bottom with a layer of small gravel on top, but you could just use the flourite by itself or mix it with a similar sized gravel. If you ever need to rearange/replant the substrate will become mixed up anyway. As far as just placing it around the plants, I would just cover your tank bottom with it so you won't be restricted to where to put more plants or from your extra cuttings. __________________ Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. Please! Give blood. Click to find local BLOOD DRIVES .................................................. ............ good time killer http://www.mafiadeath.com/r/16982.php

05-03-2006, 04:40 PM	#4
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,372 User Feedback: (2)	Rinse the flourite very well...or your tank will be cloudy for days. I would rinse it like 5 times. If you could get another bag, then I would use only the flourite. Or you could just do like you said and mix it with gravel. I have about 1/3 flourite in my 55g tank and 2/3 gravel. Really I don't see a difference in plant growth in that tank compared with my other 2 tanks that have only gravel. I think a mixture of atleast half would be better...but that's just my 2 cents. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

05-04-2006, 07:17 AM	#6
meyerhaus I flare at the mirror... Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Age: 29 Posts: 181 User Feedback: (0)	Are any of you familiar with flourite's sand product? My PetSmart has it on clearance and I was thinking about buying 3 bags for my 55 (which I can never decided whether to plant or not). __________________ Jon ~~~ *55~38~30~lots-o-10s~lots-o-Bettas!*

05-04-2006, 07:50 AM	#7
SueM Administrator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kennewick, WA. Age: 50 Posts: 986 User Feedback: (24)	Yes, I've used the sand type. It is the same basic chemistry, but I prefer the look of the larger type, and I think it gives better circulation to the plant roots. xerxeswasachump, you can try a diatom filter, but you may consider taking it down and rinsing the heck out of it, other wise every time you touch it, replant or vacuum you get a super cloudy tank, I put mine in a 5 gal bucket, put a hose in the bottom full blast, stirring it once in awhile, then let it run till the water is clear. I use 100% fluorite, and since I started doing that, I've never had a cloudy tank. __________________ Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled

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05-03-2006, 12:56 PM	#3
Caitlin Rose Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bay Area California USA Age: 26 Posts: 33 User Feedback: (0)	Thanks for the advise! Good point about thinking ahead (starting cuttings)- I think I will mix in some of my gravel but not a lot for the bottom and then cover with a layer of the remaining gravel, and in one area sand (for my loaches). And should I rinse the flourite well, or will that lower the nutrient levels?

05-04-2006, 09:21 AM	#8
meyerhaus I flare at the mirror... Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Age: 29 Posts: 181 User Feedback: (0)	They are only asking $9.99 per bag...hard to pass up. __________________ Jon ~~~ *55~38~30~lots-o-10s~lots-o-Bettas!*

05-04-2006, 11:27 AM	#9
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	I'm not sure I'm following.......... When you say Flourite's sand product, do you mean seachem onxy sand?(Flourite is made by Seachem). I perfer it (as it is a charcoal/black color) and not nearly as messy. Flourite by itself is nice but I don't like the color. Flourite/sand is a nice mix but I wouldn't mix it with anything else. Using a good substrate alone will not make your plants grow faster or nicer. There are still other things to consider (lighting, Co2, fertilizer). __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

05-04-2006, 12:47 PM	#10
xerxeswasachump no snakes alive... Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ Age: 24 Posts: 237 User Feedback: (0)	How much is a diatom filter? Is it some kind of media that comes in a bag that i can put in my filter? Is that better than a water clarifier? __________________ 46 Gallon Planted Tank: 1 bolivian ram, 1 angelfish, 12 glo-lite tetras, 2 colomesus asellus, 8 japonica shrimp

05-06-2006, 04:08 PM	#11
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	Diatom Filter....... ~ $100.00. The best water clarifier. Diatom is a powder that is used in special filters (you guessed it diatom filters lol). Magnum H.O.T. can also be used as diatom filters. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

05-10-2006, 08:00 PM	#12
joe kool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 35 Posts: 565 User Feedback: (2)	so can the mag 350 __________________ A conglomeration of cichlids from all over living happily in my "melting pot" of tanks. Breeding: currently nothing ... I'm sequestered in South Korea, "Osan" to be exact <26 days till I'm back in the states. Florida to be exact, those Floridians have no idea what they're in for!! current Fry: see above tanks: 100, 55, 46 BF, 26 BF, 20L, 5 fry tank 20L planted with CRS is the only thing up (easy for the wife to care for in my stead)

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