Fluorite options?!

[eklikewhoa]

I have been out of the loop for way longer than I thought!

Received the new DrsFoster&Smith and saw that there are now four different options to go with!

Anyone use or have any feedback on the black substrate or black sand?

[Totenkampf]

i saw that too, the black sand looks interesting. i have used flourite red and not noticed any difference over the original, which is to say it worked well. i am using eco complete black now and i really like the way it makes things pop.

[wesleydnunder]

Not sure if it's one of the types you looked at bro, but I have Seachem Onyx, a black substrate, in one of the shrimp tanks and the plants seem to love it.

Mark

[Totenkampf]

The type in DFS is actually Flourite brand now in original, red, black, and a finer black sand. I had forgotten about the Onyx! I always meant to try that. I think I will mix some in when I refresh my substrate, I have also heard about something called black Amazonia(?) but I havent researched it yet

[Mzungu]

I've tried the black substrate before, and to tell the truth wasn't too impressed. But I don't have any specific reasons as to why - just didn't do it for me, I guess.

[eklikewhoa]

Black fluorite or the onyx? I tried the onyx before and I'm staying away from that. Was it mostly personal preferrence MB?

Only asking about the clay substrates, I won't be planting much that would require it but I want to use a plant substrate to slightly alter my water params and use as a buffer/media to provide better living conditions for my CPO/CRS to breed.

[Mzungu]

Oh, sorry, the black flourite. I remember it came out a few years ago, I think. And at the time I was a big fan of the old school flourite (still am), so I was really excited about it. But it just didn't seem to do as well as the regular and red flourite. I wish I could remember why I thought that!

I had it in a 30 cube for a while, but then switched to ADA AS. And that's pretty much where I've stayed.

[eklikewhoa]

Anyone know if the black fluorite is gravel like eco complete or clay like the original fluorite?

[CRUSHER]

copied and pasted, the site i just put on here has a lot of useful info on substrates and other stuff for planted tanks: http://www.americanaquariumproducts....iumPlants.html

i saw that too, the black sand looks interesting. i have used flourite red and not noticed any difference over the original, which is to say it worked well. i am using eco complete black now and i really like the way it makes things pop.

[eklikewhoa]

Pretty nice link CRUSHER!

I would have to question the "capping" method though with most of these substrates as well as the depth at which the link suggest for most foreground and stem plants. When doing the layer method similar to NPT you don't want to disturb the substrate so stirring the sand used to cap the substrate would be difficult and like most have experienced sand compacts easily which would either kill off plants or not allow them to sprout new nodes. I've used eco-complete before and I think they actually suggest against the capping method with their substrates.

Also as it would be... lighter/smaller substrate will eventually work it's way to the bottom.

When you cap soil/substrate it forces you to be extra careful to not stir up the unsightly mess.

[eklikewhoa]

I love the old ADA Aquasoil Amazonia and the close second would be Seachem's fluorite, now if the new black fluorite is clay based like the original stuff then I would be all over it since I don't plan on doing a full scape nor have any plants that would benefit from the nutrient rich substrate.


ANYONE KNOW OR HAVE SEEN THE BLACK FLUORITE? IS IT GRAVEL LIKE OR CLAY BASED IN TEXTURE?

[CRUSHER]

Flourite Black Sand Clay -
based Plant Gravel 7 Kilo (Catalog Category: Aquarium / Plant Care
Products)

by Original
Equipment Manufacturer

Be
the first to review this item |

[CRUSHER]

Flourite Black Clay Based Plant
Gravel 7 Kilo

[eklikewhoa]

I saw that but eco has similar description but far from that

[CRUSHER]

You can always go with just straight Eco Complete... no cap. just treat it as if it were plain old gravel. I was in City Pets yesterday and they had eco complete on display and it was a wet blackish gravel of random shapes and sizes...

Pretty nice link CRUSHER!

I would have to question the "capping" method though with most of these substrates as well as the depth at which the link suggest for most foreground and stem plants. When doing the layer method similar to NPT you don't want to disturb the substrate so stirring the sand used to cap the substrate would be difficult and like most have experienced sand compacts easily which would either kill off plants or not allow them to sprout new nodes. I've used eco-complete before and I think they actually suggest against the capping method with their substrates.

Also as it would be... lighter/smaller substrate will eventually work it's way to the bottom.

When you cap soil/substrate it forces you to be extra careful to not stir up the unsightly mess.