If you use or have used this , how much did it lower your pH?
Posted by morgangraaace
11 Comments
Totalactor on
As a budget aqausoil, it works well. It contains necessary nutrients and it is readily available in most chain stores. However, some downsides include high ammonia leaking initially and deteriorating faster than more expensive aqausoil.
When I used it on a budget tank it dropped ph from 7.2 to 6.4. It did this for about 6 months.
coarsevaganas on
Ive got about 1.5″ of fluval stratum capped with another inch of sand and pea gravel. It definitely leaches Ammonia but give it enough time and your bacteria will catch up. Im 2 months in to my first planted tank and no complaints yet. However, if you want to save some money and get arguably better soil look into using organic compost and capping it with sand. Usually about $2 a bag instead of $20. I am new to this though so take my response with a grain of salt.
Skid-Mark-Kid on
I just use potting soil capped with pool filter sand. Way cheaper if you have a lot of ground to cover. Walstad method
No-Category7888 on
it’s the only reasonably priced aqua soil in my region. but i like it. it’s really light so make sure you have more than 2 inches otherwise certain stem plants will just float away after initially planting
GRCphotography on
As a stand alone, I don’t like it, it’s to soft, can be crumbled down into mud, and its very light, so roots tend to pull away from it. As one of my many layers, its good stuff.
I like to do rocks and lava stone on the bottom. filled in with sand till flat, then top soil, cheap, regular soil, but i keep it 1 inch away from the front of my glass, because i dont like the look of it. Then i top off the soil with this stuff, fill in that 1 inch gap on the front glass to, then a sand cap on top of fluval. about 3 inches at the lowest points in the front.
theacearrow on
It’s done me well for years. I’ve had the same set-up for almost four years. No issues at all. I also use it for my (terrestrial) carnivorous plants.
Competitive_Owl5357 on
I grew a string of pearls in leftover stratum and it LOVED that shit. It’s fine for planted tanks but I definitely noticed a difference with that houseplant.
emeraldvirgo on
If you have neutral to harder water, you can counter its PH-lowering effects. My tap water is very soft (6.7 PH) and I had to leave a big coral piece sitting in the tank for a week before it even started cycling.
Plant-wise, they love it and leaves are growing lush.
TopShoulder474 on
Drops pH terribly, floats for an hour after the slightest touch, too light to actually hold smaller plants in. Otherwise (apart from disturbing chemistry, dirtying tank and not working as substrate) it’s a great substrate.
oldRoundGinger on
Im cycling my first ever tank, which will be for a betta. My local tap is harder than a rock, and this brought it right down into range.
Im going to switch to half distilled, half tap going forward, as I dont expect it to last forever.
pantherfanalex on
My shrimp like it. I dont really use it for anything else.
11 Comments
As a budget aqausoil, it works well. It contains necessary nutrients and it is readily available in most chain stores. However, some downsides include high ammonia leaking initially and deteriorating faster than more expensive aqausoil.
When I used it on a budget tank it dropped ph from 7.2 to 6.4. It did this for about 6 months.
Ive got about 1.5″ of fluval stratum capped with another inch of sand and pea gravel. It definitely leaches Ammonia but give it enough time and your bacteria will catch up. Im 2 months in to my first planted tank and no complaints yet. However, if you want to save some money and get arguably better soil look into using organic compost and capping it with sand. Usually about $2 a bag instead of $20. I am new to this though so take my response with a grain of salt.
I just use potting soil capped with pool filter sand. Way cheaper if you have a lot of ground to cover. Walstad method
it’s the only reasonably priced aqua soil in my region. but i like it. it’s really light so make sure you have more than 2 inches otherwise certain stem plants will just float away after initially planting
As a stand alone, I don’t like it, it’s to soft, can be crumbled down into mud, and its very light, so roots tend to pull away from it. As one of my many layers, its good stuff.
I like to do rocks and lava stone on the bottom. filled in with sand till flat, then top soil, cheap, regular soil, but i keep it 1 inch away from the front of my glass, because i dont like the look of it. Then i top off the soil with this stuff, fill in that 1 inch gap on the front glass to, then a sand cap on top of fluval. about 3 inches at the lowest points in the front.
It’s done me well for years. I’ve had the same set-up for almost four years. No issues at all. I also use it for my (terrestrial) carnivorous plants.
I grew a string of pearls in leftover stratum and it LOVED that shit. It’s fine for planted tanks but I definitely noticed a difference with that houseplant.
If you have neutral to harder water, you can counter its PH-lowering effects. My tap water is very soft (6.7 PH) and I had to leave a big coral piece sitting in the tank for a week before it even started cycling.
Plant-wise, they love it and leaves are growing lush.
Drops pH terribly, floats for an hour after the slightest touch, too light to actually hold smaller plants in. Otherwise (apart from disturbing chemistry, dirtying tank and not working as substrate) it’s a great substrate.
Im cycling my first ever tank, which will be for a betta. My local tap is harder than a rock, and this brought it right down into range.
Im going to switch to half distilled, half tap going forward, as I dont expect it to last forever.
My shrimp like it. I dont really use it for anything else.