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Thread: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

  1. #1
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    Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

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    I search online many people mention Black Diamond Blasting Sand plus root tab, but i couldn't find any shop that sell Black Diamond Blasting Sand. Therefore any help will be appreciated.



    Thanks in advance.

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    I wonder will garden soil work?

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    Garden soil works but need a top layer specific for aquarium. I've used inert sand on top because garden soil alone will cause tank water to be kopi colour.

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    garden soil works but you need a layer of aquarium substrate to cover it ..

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    Quote Originally Posted by fireblade View Post
    garden soil works but you need a layer of aquarium substrate to cover it ..

    aquarium substrate like gravel? thicker than sand can? like activated carbon type of fine

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    you can check this out..

    Xiaozhuang mentioned that he used cheap soil for his tank..


    http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...nd-scape/page9

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    I would like to try garden soil for my next setup. In fact, I think it is kind of the best substrate with iron rich and even carbon supplements are there. But just need to be very careful since harmful substances might affect the fauna, too.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    Quote Originally Posted by ChenYW View Post
    I search online many people mention Black Diamond Blasting Sand plus root tab, but i couldn't find any shop that sell Black Diamond Blasting Sand. Therefore any help will be appreciated.



    Thanks in advance.
    They're a sandblasting material, right? Contact the sandblasting people. I've talked to Mr Sun Karno of:

    Blast & Peen Services Pte Ltd
    55 Serangoon North Ave 4, #05-07,
    S9 Building
    Singapore 555852
    Tel. 6505 9098 / 88 Fax. 6245 8785
    www.bnp.com.sg

    He'll be able to help you out - but I must tell you the price is not a lot cheaper than aquarium sand sold at LFS.

    I've tried garden soil myself - the product sold in local nurseries as "burnt earth". It's red - probably rich in iron, like most tropical soils. The problem with this is cleaning the substrate - there's construction debris inside, and the wide range of particle sizes. You've gotta be mentally prepared to handle powder that turns to clay on contact with water, and huge chunks you can't really use anywhere.

    You'll probably have better luck going with what's sold as "top soil", I think. I've never tried this before.

    I've also used gardening peat before - it never really settles down and whenever my fish makes a vigorous dash - a puff of peat comes up. Good for spawning certain species of fish, mainly for its water conditioning effects (mine have spawned twice there now), but really messy to look at.

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    Is this Black Diamond Blasting Sand?
    I got it from C328 many years ago...
    Aunty said not suitable for planted because of sharp edges..


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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    This is same as fluorite.. you can probably grow all sorts of stem plants in just plain sand ($2.50 at garden stores like FEF) with co2 and water column dosing. Most plants absorb nutrients from water column.. just make sure that the gravel/sand is not so fine that over time it becomes air-tight or air blocked.. the pic above will work..

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    ChenYW, how big is your tank and what do you plan to keep?
    what is your budget?

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    Quote Originally Posted by fireblade View Post
    ChenYW, how big is your tank and what do you plan to keep?
    what is your budget?

    2ft tank for testing. Below $50.

    I already have tank and osmocote fertilizer.

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    Re: Are there any cheap less expensive alternative substrate?

    Saw the bllack sand that I mentioned in C328.. maybe you wanna go and take a look..

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