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Re: To vermiculite, or not?



> 
> From: Davin Milun <milun at cs_Buffalo.EDU>
> Date: Mon, 4 Sep 1995 02:56:39 -0400
> Subject: To vermiculite, or not?
> 
> Hi all.
> 
> I've been mostly lurking here, since right near the creation of the list.
> I posted a couple of months back, announcing that I was about to set up
> a plant-centered, CO2-injected 55gallon, and asked for some input.  This
> would be my first real "plant tank".  Well, that tank is still not set up -
> I've been busy with other stuff.  But now, I want/need to get it set up
> soon.
> 
> Anyway, I'm deciding what to do for substrate.  I've been following all this
> vermiculite discussion, and my question essentially boils down to this:
> Of the following list of substrates, which is the "safest", and which is
> likely to produce the "best" results:
> 	1) All gravel
> 	2) A Kelly-Pushak vermiculite/humus/gravel mix at the bottom, 
> 	   with plain gravel on top
> 	3) A mix of just gravel/vermiculite at the bottom, and plain gravel
> 	   on top.
> 
> While I realize that these have become somewhat religious issues on this
> list, what I need is basic advice.  I would like my tank to be "successful",
> meaning that it has good plant growth for at least a couple of years.  And
> while I'd like to be able to be another useful data-point in
> net.plant.research, I'd *much* rather be a success data-point than a failure
> one.
> 
> So, which should I do?
> 
> Davin.
> 

Davin,

As some others have said recently, the Dupla folks have done a lot of
research on what works.  I suggest you get yourself a copy of The Optimum
Aquarium, subtitle: The sure way to success.  Guide for the installation
and care of the Fresh Water Aquarium.

Joanne.