Base fertilizer

[Apistoinka]

Hi all can some one recommend what kind of base fertilizer to use if I plan to use gravel or sand to do planting instead of soil...

Will this method work???

[Corga]

Hi there,
As far as I know, people here normally put a layer of aquarium type soil ( e.g ADA Amazonia ) followed by a layer of gravel/sand. Are you saying that rather than put soil, you want to put pure fert ?

[Apistoinka]

Yup as I do not want to put any soil just want to put base fert than sand above it... Wonder which base fert is ok to use... As I do not wish that soil and sand being mixed up as I'll be using sudo bottom sand...

[Shadow]

Hi there,
As far as I know, people here normally put a layer of aquarium type soil ( e.g ADA Amazonia ) followed by a layer of gravel/sand.

No, you should not put gravel or sand on top of ADA soil.

There many different brand of base fert, Dennerle, SERA, JBL, just pic one.

[Apistoinka]

Hi shadow how much will it cost for those base fert you mention.... You can pm me about the price if cant reveal here... Which shop have it...

[felix_fx2]

No, you should not put gravel or sand on top of ADA soil.

There many different brand of base fert, Dennerle, SERA, JBL, just pic one.

Think he confused.

[ralliart12]

No, you should not put gravel or sand on top of ADA soil...

Not even as a design choice, i.e. a thin layer of lapis/sudo sand on top of Aqua Soil?

[Shadow]

Sorry, no idea about current price. Last used 2007 switch to ADA aquasoil ever since

[Shadow]

Not even as a design choice, i.e. a thin layer of lapis/sudo sand on top of Aqua Soil?

Your sudo sand will slowly sink. If you really want, you need to partition the sand and soil.

It is not really die-die cannot, just defeat the purpose of ADA soil.

[bryan]

You can find various brands of base fertilizer at C328 or Seaview. Usually people use lapis sand for top layer.

I think sudo sand is too fine, I wouldn't try it.

[Apistoinka]

Will Lapis sand to big grain for the plant to root in??? That is what I'm worrying about...

[Shadow]

Since it is for planted tank, is there any reason why you want to use lapis sand + base fert? Cost wise probably almost the same between lapis+base fert vs ADA Aquasoil.

[felix_fx2]

Will Lapis sand to big grain for the plant to root in??? That is what I'm worrying about...

IMO. Base fert not cheap. Lapis is itself is inert else very little nutrient value. Add both and you might be better off with compressed soil grain like Ada/gex.

Ada grain size I have about the same as the lapis I have.

Btw, I'm using normal potting soil covered by 1 inch lapis. That might explain the confusion on the earlier post.

[ralliart12]

Your sudo sand will slowly sink. If you really want, you need to partition the sand and soil...

I'm using a dense layer of Dennerle shirmp soil, with grain diameter as small as 0.7mm. I lay it on top of a layer of GEX Shrimp & Plant soil (the red packet version). Let's wait & observe if it will merge. I have no idea about this too.

[ralliart12]

...It is not really die-die cannot, just defeat the purpose of ADA soil.

You mean to say AquaSoil will achieve maximum effect if it can be exposed directly to the water column?

[Shadow]

What I mean is ADA Aquasoil is for planted tank and sand is for cosmetic. Meaning you put sand to give a contrast to the scape, for aesthetic purpose not for planting. I don't see the purpose of putting a soil under the sand when you know that you are not going to plant anything on that area. Why not sand all the way down? or maybe I should try to understand first why you want to put sand on top of aquasoil?

[felix_fx2]

Not even as a design choice, i.e. a thin layer of lapis/sudo sand on top of Aqua Soil?

Sudo sand not nice to plant on.. but it is pretty thou. if the light coloured one even worse, plant = a speck of ADA soil on the sand LOL werid.
so lets imagine abit over here.

ADA2 covered by Sudo sand, after planting ADA grain here and there... plants have that take more nutrient from root have to grow longer roots...
Holy... reminds me of a certain time of my 3 feet... playsand on peat + garden soil.
I end up stir the soil and sand... make me feel like a great cook.. "char quay tiao"

See the difference below from the front of the tank.

Before mixing picture (around 3-5 months after i joined fourm, before i started to use Co2 also)


After mixing (Also toward the time i decom that tank, around 1 year later)

[Apistoinka]

That was a nice tank scape and nice wood there...

I'm starting the topic is because I'm planning to start a Apisto tank with sand but I want to plant some rooted plant... So would like to know how to go abt it...

[Shadow]

You can divide your tank into to portion, the front part sand only and behind soil only. I seen people using acrylic for the divider. Last time I use rocks as divider but know a days does not really care

[Apistoinka]

Well might try all means... Just worry the Apisto will take those sand and spit onto the soil area...