Laterite Substrate
by Robert Paul Hudson
from Robert's web site in Salem Oregon: Aquabotanic.com
Aquarticles ...
Laterite - the whole story
by Earle Hamilton (Fri, 18 Aug 1995)
Laterite balls/shards: low surface area
by Charley Bay (Mon, 21 Aug 95)
A discussion of substrate additives
by Stephen.
Laterite: A substance used in fresh water plant tanks to supply nutrients, either a powder placed under the gravel or chunks mixed in the gravel bed.
LD50: The value of a given experimental variable required to cause 50% mortality.
Laterite. This rich, red clay is often added to the lower layers of gravel by aquatic gardeners.
Laterite - Iron- and mineral-rich soil material, a layer of which is sometimes placed below a layer of gravel in the Substrate of Planted Tanks to provide plant nutrition.
Adding Laterite
The longest lasting way to add Laterite to the gravel substrate is to lay a thin layer of gravel down, then a layer of Laterite, and then the remaining gravel.
Laterite: Iron-rich clays, in a reddish colour, you can buy some in your local pet shop. Why bother? You don't have to, but this will add some iron into the substrate.
Laterite looks good, and serves as a media for beneficial bacteria.
[edit] Bogwood ...
Laterite (Cat Litter)
This is not really a substrate but more of an additive to substrate. It is a form of clay that contains iron and acts as a sponge to store nutrients, but is meant to be mixed into the existing substrate (usually inert gravel).
If laterite or peat is used in the substrate and a very slow flow of water can be forced through the substrate, water-born nutrients will be chelated by the laterite or peat. This will provide a continuous source of nutrients in the substrate.
We mix the laterite with water, and put it in the oven to harden. After that, we break it into pieces and place it under the soil layer.
Laterite, the Substrate, and Plant Nutrients A newly set-up tank is a pretty unfriendly place for plants.
Unless you are going for a particular biotope it is recommended just using a fine natural colour aquarium gravel with a base of laterite for the plants. When setting up make sure that your tank is level and supported across its entire width.
The bottom 1/3 of the gravel can be supplemented with a fertilizer, of which popular choices are peat (softens water), laterite (a clay containing iron, usually used with undergravel heating systems), and soil.
If you wanted to add Laterite , Peat or any other nutrients to your substrate now is the time to do it. I am using only the flourite and will later down the road start feeding the roots with plant spikes.
If you're planning a planted tank substrate should be layered, with a bottom layer of finer substrates first, like laterite, kitty litter, flourite mixed with a handful of peat moss works really well.
Aquarium Setup:
The Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid loves sandy substrates for digging and burrowing. Laterite based substrates work really well as they will also help in maintaining the required alkalinity.
Provide numerous rocks and caves and a sandy bottom with plenty of places to set up territories. A laterite-based substrate is ideal for this system as it will help to maintain the necessary high pH and alkalinity.
The Cobalt Blue will do best in a cichlid community aquarium with numerous rocks and caves with a sandy bottom and plenty of places to set up territories. A laterite-based substrate is ideal for this system as it will help to maintain the necessary ...
Also, a layer of peat or Laterite under the gravel is advisable to provide some nutrients. However, be careful not to disturb the top gravel layer as the bottom layer products can cause algae problems if leached into the water column.
Nutrient rich substrates, soil-based substrates, or nutrient-rich substrate additives are a great way to ensure that there are enough nutrients present. One commonly used soil additive is pure laterite, ...
In most cases, plants do best in fine gravel with some sort of base fertilizer. Base fertilizer is not required, but is recommended. Iron rich clay fertilizers like laterite, and other fertilizers manufactured for aquatic plants are suitable.
I use a laterite gravel base, topped with a small grain gravel for visual effect. This provides the plant roots with various nutrients, but I also supplement with a liquid fertiliser.
fertilizers that are rich in nutrients like iron and potassium are available as pellets and in liquid form. Follow the product instructions on the quantity, schedule, and manner of applying these fertilizers. Some substrates are mixed with laterite ...
You can add things like Laterite, potting soil without chemicals added (John Innes no.2 is very good) but as this is a low tech tank these types of fertilisation would be a bit much for my plants, so just wasn't worth the cost of buying/getting them.
 See also: Water, Plants, Fish, Aquarium, Substrate
  
|
RSS
