B
Brian20
Guest
Well Im reading in books and internet. Well I found a contradictory statement. Well in some articles says that a good aireation is good for roots so the granular substrate (ADA, gravel, lava rock, flourite, eco complete, etc....) are the best substrate that a (well, I call it) base substrate. a base susbstrate is a substrate under the main substrate that are common clay, peat, mulm, mineralized soil, humus, and the list goes on.) A lot of this main substrates creates a mulm that not let the water pass through it, well maybe the water pass in microscopic speeds.
Well, I made a susbtrate ( I mentioned it here) that have goods results for me, mainly with grass type and Echinodorus species. The susbtrates not have it all, you still need to add ferts but it is like a backup and helps in general to plants. I have used Eco complete only, flora max and laterite in my tanks and my own substrate are far more good that this substrates. Not secrets here, only clay, mineralized soil (water mineralizing), bacteria, peat and a few ferts and osmocote in some variants. The plants in this substrate grows roots faster and longer, also very white and healthy, and when is used with liquid ferts the plants grows and reproduce like weeds, the dwarf hairgrass grows like crazy.
example of my 20G
first days
Actually
I read in other parts in internet and books that a loam substrate are the best because it contains anaerobic spots that transforms heavy metals to bio-available to the roots because it not have oxigen and the minerals can stay more time bio-avaliable. That non bio-available iron transform to bio-available in this loam substrates. Also the substrate not need to be oxigenated because the same plants roots "oxigenate" it pumping oxigen to the substrate and I confirmed this because in high CO2 levels somethimes I see big bubbles coming from the substrate and some unrooted roots making bubbles.
Other says that in anaerobic conditions the substrate comes dangerous for plants and fish because it creates chemicals and gases that can damage roots and kill fish.
Well there are a big contradiction
I trust in my substrate, a nutrient rich, loamy, acid substrate is the best to grow plants, with a layer of thrifty sorb (is like SMS) over it to not let the rich substrate touch the column water directly.
Tom Barr what you think about this contradictions?
Thanks in advance, Brian Soto
Well, I made a susbtrate ( I mentioned it here) that have goods results for me, mainly with grass type and Echinodorus species. The susbtrates not have it all, you still need to add ferts but it is like a backup and helps in general to plants. I have used Eco complete only, flora max and laterite in my tanks and my own substrate are far more good that this substrates. Not secrets here, only clay, mineralized soil (water mineralizing), bacteria, peat and a few ferts and osmocote in some variants. The plants in this substrate grows roots faster and longer, also very white and healthy, and when is used with liquid ferts the plants grows and reproduce like weeds, the dwarf hairgrass grows like crazy.
example of my 20G
first days
Actually
I read in other parts in internet and books that a loam substrate are the best because it contains anaerobic spots that transforms heavy metals to bio-available to the roots because it not have oxigen and the minerals can stay more time bio-avaliable. That non bio-available iron transform to bio-available in this loam substrates. Also the substrate not need to be oxigenated because the same plants roots "oxigenate" it pumping oxigen to the substrate and I confirmed this because in high CO2 levels somethimes I see big bubbles coming from the substrate and some unrooted roots making bubbles.
Other says that in anaerobic conditions the substrate comes dangerous for plants and fish because it creates chemicals and gases that can damage roots and kill fish.
Well there are a big contradiction
I trust in my substrate, a nutrient rich, loamy, acid substrate is the best to grow plants, with a layer of thrifty sorb (is like SMS) over it to not let the rich substrate touch the column water directly.
Tom Barr what you think about this contradictions?
Thanks in advance, Brian Soto