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Those from 2012 got to the wasted stage after about a year and a half. It was pretty noticeable in terms of water clarity on it's own. Had a few outbreaks of BBA at this time too as well as an increased death rate in the shrimp.) I was using 100% tap water up to that point so it was working...

No. I put the Akadama in and fill it with tap water, leave for 24 hours. Then empty as much of the water out as I can and refill with tap water and leave for another 24 hours. Then I fill with whatever rain/tap mix I am going to continue with and plant up. In my non display tanks they have...

I use it in virtually all of my tanks.

It depends on what you want from it. There is definitely a point where it is 'wasted' where it stops sucking in the KH / reducing the Ph. When you first put it in it will suck all the KH out so you have to 'charge' it by adding clean water for a day or 2 until it balances out. Then for a...

Its just that there are no bonsai shops in Lincoln but there are 3 'hydroponics' shops. I may buy a small amount to see what happens. Would be soaking for a month first anyway. AC

Is this stuff akadama or a suitable alternative? http://www.3ch.co.uk/growing-media/othe ... d_368.html AC

NPK inclusion in substrates is not a biggie. A lot of the cheaper ones have that. NPK depletes over time. What is important is that the product has CEC which means it can replensih itself. Eco-Complete does have some CEC. Not as much as some other but still it has some whereas some other...

I have seen the said article mentioned above and it does indeed state 'nothing to do with Oliver Knott' however I think the producers in Japan must've had a word with the article writer because if you look at the Oliver Knott blurb he/whoever is in charge of NatureSoil has made a big big error...

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/c ... p?sid=3263

Their website says to wait for stocking though. There must be something for them to suggest that. AC

Did it affect fish health Paulo? I regularly have bubble streams coming through the sand but no deaths or effect on fish health as far as I can observe. AC

I thought the process was that Hydrogen sulphide forms but when it hits the oxygenated water immediately turns into Sulphur Oxide rendering it harmless? Is this only an issue with fine particle substrates? or could it happen in a larger grain gravel like pea gravel? AC

That clears that one then :) AC

James I remember Sam had problems with HC in Akadama. I just read a thread on APC where someone is asking why HC isn't growing yet everything else is and they are using akadama. Do you think there could be a link? No idea what sort of link it would be if there was one though. lol AC

I think Garuf is right. lol It's great to see Tom dispatch myths and he does it well even for those of us who don't understand the science fully we can still see it. It is even better though when someone wants to argue the point with him and Tom makes sure that he shows who is on the right...

There is a similar thread on barrreport where someone suggests that the ADA powerssand is great and basically has a full on argument with Tom on it. lol. You have to read it all to understand but it gets real interesting towards the end of the first page. Quite gripping. ;)...

If you are determined to keep the background then I would make the substrate dark to match and then use the plants as the contrast against their surroundings. AC

In that link Tom says that although ADA AS is still the best that the other ' additions' aren't worth the money as there are no noticeable differences when you use them. Quite a good read though because an ADA fan has a big argument with Tom. lol AC

Not according to Tom Barr!!! http://www.barrreport.com/co2-aquatic-p ... -sand.html AC

How expensive was the gravel you used on top of the Tropica However Tropica would still be cheaper!!! They recommended substrate quantity means that 1 x 5ltr bag at £19 is enough for up to 250ltrs of tank!!! That would mean that your gravel would have to be £37 for it to cost as much as the...

This used to happen to me but I just ignored it. I still did water changes but didn't pull up the dirty layer. It sorted iteslf out and the sand looks more natural now than when it was white. This was pre corys too. AC

My personal opinion is to mix it with the new. As long as you are water column dosing it shouldnt matter. AC

Re: Can I use John Innes no.3 in aquariums? Reading the link above I'll clear a couple of things up within it. It says that several manufacturers use the same recipe when in fact they dont. There are many John Innes No3 which is a trademark but it applies to the ratios of nutrient within it...

Re: Can I use John Innes no.3 in aquariums? yes but treat it the same way as ADA AS as it will contain Urea as an ingredient and lots of ammonia from the Farm Manure content. 3-4 weeks fishless cycle while the ammonia/nitrite readings both reach zero. Water change heavily every few days for...

Maybe due to me using lower light levels but the crypts I grew pre nutrient substrate were just as shiny, colourful and healthy as the ones I grow now with nutrient substrate. Both with water column dosing. I dont intend using root tabs and have no idea if my Tropica is spent or not with it...

My belief is that although a nutrient rich substrate is beneficial in holding ferts to supplement any possible deficiency they arent really needed if the water column is being adequately dosed. AC

My Tropica substrate must be already or very nearly 'spent' seeing as it is now 1 year old. The tank only has 'heavy root feeders' (I agree with Ceg on this statement.) As a small question r.e. Hydroleca. What made you go for the Hydroleca rather than Laterite which is widely used in...

I think you may have a different problem but as you know from my many rants I am in 'constant disagreement' with the many "You can't use a fine substrate as it will become anaerobic" statements as per my posts on TFF. I have used plsy/silver/dry sand for a long time and a part from the small...

malaya is a lighter colour. not sure if it has different chemicals in it?

1 tub of tetra doesn't have as much volume in it as 1 bag of Tropica though. I would say Tropica is the better value!! For 400Ltr tank Tetra (1 tub = 120Ltr tank) = 4 x 5.8kg tubs = £48 Tropica = (8.8Ltrs = 530Ltr tank) 2 x 5Ltr bags = £38 This is of course going by Tropicas recommended...

TBH Aaron. Had a look in Pets at Home and I quite likey the 'highland river gravel' that Roman gravel do. Cheap too. Very nice colour. Aquagrit is OK to put in on it's own but I want the gravel to be the perfect 'finish'. lol Thanks for the offer though. I'm sure someone will take it off...

I think Crabworx may be more suited to marine. Not sure what it is made of. Will look in maidenhead next time in. Did find these though: http://www.seapets.co.uk/product-detail ... y/940.html http://www.seapets.co.uk/product-detail ... y/940.html I'm looking at the scond one so far. Just...

Does anyone know anywhere online that does very cheap fine gravel. AE has some I like but in 2kg bags which is no good for me. http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=102_223&products_id=1582 I am looking for similar stuff but 20kg and I don't particularly want...

It shouldn't be a problem with leaving old roots in the substrate. Tropica actually suggest cutting plants at their crown and leaving the roots to decay, although I don't because I find that it tends to grow again. I think if they suggest it then it shouldn't cause problems. As per above I...

Not to ignore advice James but I was assuming that Tropica was pretty inert and a similar product in that it soaks up nutrient rather than provide it?? I was just going to put the gravel on top for the effect/colouration. I will again be PMDD+P dosing. I've not had a problem with the Tropica...

Just researching my options before I redo my tank in a couple of months. I am thinking of replacing the Tropica with Akadama and have a few questions ( I have re-read the whole article but I may have missed the answers I am after.) I will again be using mulm on the bottom, then ¼inch...

To add to the carbon part. TB suggest Leonardite as it is an extra source of carbon. This is in his Non CO2 thread (although I will now use it in every scape I do) Andy

you will have a receipt in paypal if you look in your history it will let you print that off. Andy

When I changed over my scape and substrate, I: 1 - disconnected the filter 2 - Rinsed all the media in the filter water 3 - Poured the lot into the tank and let the water settle 4 - made sure the mulm (now at the bottom of the 1 cm of water) was evenly spread. 5 - Layered a ½cm layer of...

Did you notice the - Collect Only tag.lol I dont drive so that rules me out. he, he Andy

James I must say that this looks like Tropica which is also a clay based substrate. I guess Tropica works in the same way in trapping the nutrients from the water column to feed the plant?? No idea. This is a pic of my tropica before covering it: As you can see it looks almost identical...

Hope the thread makes a little more sense again now. Many apologies for being a child and ruining them months ago. Andy

If I remember correctly the Aquatic Compost contains limestone. This one? (6th down) Aquatic Link Andy

Double Post

Sorry see post above

Sitting at my desk at William Sinclair (J Arthur Bowers) as I would've been a couple of months ago, I could've given you the exact breakdown of the product including peat, greenwaste, sterilised soil etc. Alas one of the many hardships I have faced in the last few months is that I was sacked by...

JI is much the same as any other standard compost. The reason for the John Innes label is it is a recognised 'formulaic' inclusion of the nutrient compounds which was patented so now all the compost manufacturers have to put the name on their bags and pay royalties!!! Different brands will...

Jim