I have 100 lbs of 3M S grade colored quartz. Is there any advantage to switching to Seachems fluorite? Has anyone tried both on a planted tank and seen any difference?
Plant Substrate Flourite vs 3M colored Quartz
- Thread starter MadRussian79
- Start date
Flourite is made specifically for planted tank and contains nutrients that plants need. the 3m stuff is basically colored sand
Flourite provides iron, that's about it.
It has a high cation exchange capacity though, meaning positively charged nutrients will stick to it, and helps with plant growth that way.
Plants grow just fine in normal sand if you add fertilizer to the water column.
It has a high cation exchange capacity though, meaning positively charged nutrients will stick to it, and helps with plant growth that way.
Plants grow just fine in normal sand if you add fertilizer to the water column.
I agree with flourite being much much better, no real use of sterile sand. There is a study that was done by Tom Barr and it demonstrated the lack of utility of sand. If you are feeling adventurous try soil below sand. Cheap but slightly risky-might kill fishes.
price vs reward..... the cost is a lot the reward not really worth it in my eyes. like fsm said it has a good high cation exchange capacity but there are cheaper options with higher high cation exchange capacity.
you can enrich colorquartz by adding layers but for the most part in most tanks you should be fine with it.
you can enrich colorquartz by adding layers but for the most part in most tanks you should be fine with it.
i disagree with this. sand will be inert not helping plant growth but its cheap and look nice. lots of people use it and have great growth.... could you have better grow with another substrate maybe but not everyone is looking for max growth. you are going to spend all that money on substrate where having better lights filtration or what not is a better way to spend your money.
