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RE: Arcillite
Hi Dave,
I've just set up (2 weeks ago) a 30 gallon tank using Arcillite in
the form of "Profile Aquatic Plant Soil." I used a 1.5" to 2" layer
of arcillite, covered by a 1-2" layer of sand (0.5-3mm in diameter).
Too early to say much about plant growth, but I can see Hygrophila
polysperma putting down a few roots into the arcillite already, and
some Crypt. wendtii are putting out lots of new leaves.
The package claims this stuff won't cloud water - this is mostly true.
I've had no cloudiness at all upon initial planting and upon moving
a few plants around 1 week later. But if you put a handful in a tub
of water and stir it up well, the water does cloud up some. I washed the
grains several times before putting it in the tank, but the water still
wouldn't run off clear after being washed and stirred several times.
Oh well, I don't stir my tanks vigorously. :)
If you do a search in the APD archives, I think a couple of folks
posted a while back about arcillite.
-Heide
http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~boingy/aquaria.html
> Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 10:35:14 -0400 (EDT)
> From: "David Thomas Gauthier" <gauthie9 at pilot_msu.edu>
> Subject: Arcillite
> Hello..
> A friend of mine just came back from a local greenhouse with some "Aquatic
> Plant Growing Media." I forgot to write down the brand name. It is described
> as a 100% mineral soil, and makes a bunch of other claims
> that all basically say that it has a high CEC, no organics, and no effect on
> pH. The guaranteed analysis states that it is 100% Arcillite. Anyone had any
> experience with this stuff? Any geologists out there have any ideas as to what
> it is composed of?
> Rgds
> Dave Gauthier
> gauthie9 at pilot_msu.edu