iron in gex/ada 2 soil?

**icefire** · 7th Jun 2011, 21:21

hey guys anyone tried using a strong magnet to test whether the soil is attracted to magnets? i just tried and was surprised that a lot of soil particles being attracted to the magnet... *wonders if it pose any threat to any fishes*

**felix_fx2** · 7th Jun 2011, 21:25

Really? Later I reach home can try

But Ada and gex are compressed right?

**icefire** · 7th Jun 2011, 21:28

hmm compressed? not sure about that haha but i'm sure that ada and gex have iron inside...

**felix_fx2** · 7th Jun 2011, 22:34

I'm speaking from a point which I cannot fully harness google's power using touch screen.

I do recall so, they are.

**aquarius** · 8th Jun 2011, 13:26

My Seachem Flourite substrate can also be attracted to a magnet. I happened to discover this while i was using the magnet to clean the glass when i noticed that got some bits of the substrate were actually attracted to the magnet.

**Emokidz** · 11th Jun 2011, 03:22

Hmm, I tried on my ADA Amazonia II and there's no attraction. Could it be static?

**icefire** · 12th Jun 2011, 21:36

hmm..not using seachem flourite leh... i think maybe is the gex... dont think is static cause its in water lol... static will be discharged...

**felix_fx2** · 14th Jun 2011, 19:20

Originally Posted by icefire

hmm..not using seachem flourite leh... i think maybe is the gex... dont think is static cause its in water lol... static will be discharged...

Your gex special edition? I tried on my Ada 2 no joy.

**icefire** · 1st Jul 2011, 20:34

don't think so haha .. bought 2nd hand from somebody from another forum..

**stormhawk** · 2nd Jul 2011, 00:30

Seachem Flourite® is a specially fracted, stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. <-- From their website.

While ADA or GEX do not share with us the composition of the soil in their products, it is likely that they too use some sort of iron rich clay (redder it is, the richer in iron) to aid in plant growth. This explains why over time, the ADA/GEX soil will break down and obvious pieces of red earth and small stones appear.

I doubt they would affect our fish/shrimps much, since they are used by the manufacturers themselves in their own show tanks with little to no effect on their livestock.