TedsTank

Well with all of the new plant friendly substrates available....What is the "life" of these?? Do they work forever or something that needs to be replenished every couple of few years??..I can't find that addressed anywhere.
Shawnie!!!!!!

Shawnie

shawnie is have another brunette moment!! cause im not sure what you are asking LOL sowwy my friend

TedsTank

ok...got an answer....its obivious of course....lol

With the new sustrates...they still will need regular fertilizer tabs..to replenish what gets used up..(I was thinking it was ready to go for years)

I called aquariumplants.com.....what nice helpful folks there!!

in nature new neutriants are always being added....in a tank not completely so....dah!!! Glass bottom, glass sides...nothing new every gets filtered in....dats our job!!! (of course)...lol

Oh well good test for shawnie!! file that info girl!!!!

namehater

i think they are wondering what the life-span of the substrate is, once you buy it does it last forever or does it lose its nutritional value over time?

its a good question btw, ive always wondered myself

suemvb

Hi Ted

I posted the same question here recently and got some good information.

Here's a link to that thread. Does Seachem Flourite need to be replaced?

Susan

TedsTank

always loosing as the plants absorb it. AP says that you add nutrients regularly like every 4 - 5 weeks. Makes sense to me now.

TedsTank

I have also heard that the flourite type can turn to mud if they under bake it.?? And if they over bake it...no nutrients can be released. Problem is as you research this all brand seem to have the "best".......

namehater

i dont understand the purpose of buying the substrate if you still have to add stuff to the water, i thought that was the whole point

Shawnie

still no clue what the heck you are talking about..my planted tanks(all low lights) are gravel and regular lighting..no special subtrate or anything added to the tanks...all natural...so not sure why you were asking me LOL ....and no clue what im filing hahah...my tanks are very simple without any additives even for plants

TedsTank

lol....mine too.....
I have heard a lot about the new substrates so just was doing some research. I do believe it better matches the rooting area (dirt or whatever) better than just sand or gravel.

I used to plant some plants in pots, with the heavy clay soil sold for water lilies....it is better!! the plants grow better, you can see the difference even if you were using ferts.,,but the nutrients in the soil are eventually used up by the plants, so we have the need for fertilizer tablets to replenish it. But for a natural look, pots just don't fit.

Nate McFin

Good explanation Ted.
I remember reading about mineralized top soil over at planted tank. It was a labor intensive way to set up a substrate involving removing minerals from soil through sifting over and over. The minerals are then added to a clay based mixture. This is spread on the bottom of the aquarium and "capped" with a normal substrate like sand, color quartz, turface pro and the like. One of the originators of the mineralized soil has had his tank going for years without dosing any fertz at all. I do believe this is designed for a Diana Walstad style "El Natural" aquarium. (Non Co2)For those who are into planted tanks and havent read her book it is quite interesting. It is called "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium"

TedsTank

Thank you...interesting!!

mathas

That book should be required reading for anyone who wants live plants.

SWilkins

It's kinda like taking care of our fish...we replace the needed minerals in their water with water changes and add anything they need...take out unwanted chemicals.... We have to feed the fish since they have no way to get out and get their own food so pretty much the same thing applies to the plants. I just setup a planted tank and I know that all the little goodies in the substrate will not last forever so I am going to have to add fertilizers or replace the substrate.

Nutter

Nutrient substrates are intended to provide essential nutrients to substrate rooted plants. Most have a working life of between 2-3yrs. It's easiest to think of it like a normal garden plant in a pot. You can go & buy a premium potting mix that has all the nutrients your plant will need but after awhile those nutrients will have been absorbed by the plant & you will need to add fertilizer to the pot for the plant to continue to thrive. Like Miracle-gro or slow release pellets. If you add the miracle-gro when you first put the plant in the pot & continue to add it occasionally, the nutrients in the potting mix will last much longer as they are being topped up by you via the addition of the miracle-gro.

A nutrient substrate works the same way. It has the nutrients that your aquarium plants need & they are all there for the plant to use. The plants can grow just fine with only the nutrient substrate but after a period, some of the minerals it contains will be depleted & the plant growth will slow or even develop signs of deficiences. The usable life of the nutrient substrate can be extended considerably by the periodic addition of fertilizer tablets. Sometimes up to 5 or 6yrs. The minerals contained in the tablets spread through the nutrient substrate topping it up with minerals it has been depleted of. Just like adding the Miracle-gro to the pot plant. Many nutrient substrates such a Laterite also contain many benefical organisms & enzymes that help plants with the process of photosynthisis. These enzymes & organisms are not found in any form of liquid or tablet fertilizers & this is why better growth is often observed when nutrient substrates are used. Nutrient substrates also work the same way as tablets in that they provide nutrients straight to the roots of the plant instead of them being distributed throughout the water column, which avoids or reduces the algae problems often associated with overdosing liquid ferts.

If I understood the question correctly then I think I have answered the question. If I didn't, oh well. It only took a couple of minutes to type.

TedsTank

Good explanation too....i realize the procedure and it absolutely makes sense!!! I talked with some folks about their brand and they walked me thru the how's and why's of substrates...and it is true that if you use them, you will still need to replace ferts and micro neutriants as they they are used up by the plants. The folks at aquariumplants.com were very, very helpful.