Regal

Does anyone know if Seachem Flourite planted tank substrate needs to be replaced periodically. I have a mix of Flourite and gravel. It's just over a year and a half old.

Nate McFin

Yes all substrates will run out of nutrients. One year seems to be the concensus on planted tank though I am not sure how accurate the time frame actually is. You can either...
a. add your nutrients via the water column and root tabs and leave the substrate or...
b. replace
I have also seen some folks freezing cubes of flourite to put under the plants. By freezing it keeps it from clouding and you can put it right where you want it.

mathas

As with most things, it depends on who you ask

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/su...-flourite.html
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/su...ng-useful.html
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/su...substrate.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...-subtrate.html

On their website, SeaChem claims "the substrate should be self-sustaining for many years and should never actually require replacement." A SeaChem rep responded to an APC member's question with the following answer:

Regal

Thanks Nate. I was thinking I saw somewhere that it would not be as effective after a while but I wasn’t sure. My sword plants used to produce lots of babies but they don’t anymore. I use root tabs and do see new leaf growth with the root tabs but they don’t have the stalks for babies anymore.

I read though the info in the links you posted. It seems that most feel that it shouldn’t run out of nutrients in my lifetime. Maybe my light bulbs just need replaced. I should be much more consistent with the root tabs and liquid fertilizer too. It just seems like a year ago the swords were taking over the tank with babies without me doing much of anything and now nothing.

I also learned a new MTS acronym

MTS = Multiple Tank Syndrome
MTS = Malaysian Trumpet Snails
And…
MTS = Mineralized Top Soil

Nate McFin

Very good point Mathas.You never know until you see it yourself I guess. lol
Though Takashi Amano says that Amazonia runs out of nutrients. (Maybe he gets a percentage of the profits for saying so haha)
Sue oddly my swords dont have babies much anymore either. I was reading a webpage about trimming the dead (non white) roots off the plant and trimming the other roots back some to encourage new growth in swords. Another interesting thing is that they say 12 hours of light is best for swords. I was at 12 hours and saw algae growth so I cut back to 9 hours. Since I cut back I have seen some leaves on the swords turning yellow and the plant actually seems to be shrinking. Weird. So many variables with plants and thats one of the things that makes them so fun!
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Decor%20Amazon%20Sword.htm

Regal

I have pulled the swords and trimmed the roots many times. That didn't help. I can't remember if I cut of the stalks for the babies or what happened to them. Maybe once the stalks are gone they just don't ever come back. I don't know. Mine still grow really well. lot's of new leaves but no baby stalks. With DIY co2 the leaves grow really tall.

I have algae on my swords too. As new leaves grow up the middle I end up with algae on the older leaves around the edges of the plants. I just trim the algae covered leaves off. My lights are probably on about 12 hours but i don't have a timer so I'm not totally sure.