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Akadama or Moler Clay?

No it didn't, I just didn't want anything too technical just all nice and simple do I could work things out. Some posts made it all look too much like hard work, and that would have meant a tank even more full of dust and fluff
 
It's easy to get disheartened by all the jargon that flies around the internet. The golden rule for low tech, low maintenance tanks is to keep you light low and change your water once a week. You'll be an expert before you know it :thumbup:
 
Henry,

I recently got the green light for a 4 ft and that stuff looks exactly what i am looking for, i so went for the 30L, should be loads. I plan this stuff for raised areas and play sand/pool sand for open and lower areas for my Cory's to dig around in.

Should workout a bargain compared to the commercial products around. Perhaps you could start a thread about your findings on this product?

Mike

Henry said:
Well, I bought 30 litres of the stuff, and WOW did I overestimate! 30 Litres is absolutely bloody loads!

I couldn't be happier with my purchase; its the right colour, the right size, and it was an absolute bargain considering what I could have spent on specialist substrates. I just need everything to grow in now, then I'll get some proper pictures up. For now, this is how it looks half an hour after filling:

20130405_175003_zps20a4d38e.jpg
Click to expand...
 
I have bought a 30L sack of this for my new RIO 180 and I am having trouple at the first step, washing it.

I left the shower head in the bucket in the end turned the cold on so i wasnt eating the hot water and left it running the water for 50minutes and it was still running red the water.

It seems to never clean this batch i have it constantly dusts the water. Should this happen? and i just have to wait for it to settle and clear.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

cc
 
Although this substrate is strong enough not to crumble in the tank after a few years, it doesn't stand up well to be swished about in a bucket. As the grains rub together, they knock off tiny bits that cloud the water (it is just baked clay, after all). A gentle rinse is all it needs before it can go into the tank, just be sure to fill with water very carefully; use a plastic bag over the substrate, perhaps.

With regards to the lightness of the clay, it's best to wet it first to allow the water to permeate all the pores in the grains. Once in the tank, push a pair of tweezers or similar through the substrate to allow it to settle properly, and to remove any air trapped underneath it. Having done this, you shouldn't find any further problems that you wouldn't associate with any other substrate.
 
Henry said:
Although this substrate is strong enough not to crumble in the tank after a few years, it doesn't stand up well to be swished about in a bucket. As the grains rub together, they knock off tiny bits that cloud the water (it is just baked clay, after all). A gentle rinse is all it needs before it can go into the tank, just be sure to fill with water very carefully; use a plastic bag over the substrate, perhaps.

With regards to the lightness of the clay, it's best to wet it first to allow the water to permeate all the pores in the grains. Once in the tank, push a pair of tweezers or similar through the substrate to allow it to settle properly, and to remove any air trapped underneath it. Having done this, you shouldn't find any further problems that you wouldn't associate with any other substrate.
Click to expand...

Agree with everything Henry has said here, reflects all my experiences. Leaving it for a few days in place in the tank and gentle manipulation to remove trapped air is key. I rushed my setup given time limitations. Which turned into a false economy as resetting the hardscape had to be done 3 times as things moved around as the akadama settled.
 
Do the above comments regarding dustiness mean this would be a bad choice for fish that like to dig? I'm not talking about Corys here - I'm looking for a good substrate for Channa stewarti. They tend to dig a bit once sexually mature. I had them in a tank with a soil base and they dug it up and wrecked the place. I was looking at using Akadama or Moler clay this time, but I'm concerned that their digging will cloud the water too much. I really don't want to be boring and just use sand with plants tied to wood for this one!
 
I've had success with plain gravel and sand in the past, too. I just wanted to use something a bit more nourishing this time as Channa really like it densely planted. The easiest thing would be to tie Anubias spp. and the like to wood but I'm hoping to avoid that this time.
 
Ok cheers, I'm just not too keen on the colour of the clay/akadama/cat litter on its own.

When I saw your link I got excited 😀 I'm not sure it's very good for all this CEC business anyway.

I think I'll just buy a small bag, to cap the moler off.
 
NC10 said:
Ok cheers, I'm just not too keen on the colour of the clay/akadama/cat litter on its own.

When I saw your link I got excited 😀 I'm not sure it's very good for all this CEC business anyway.

I think I'll buy a small bag anyway just to cap the moler off.
Click to expand...
Its the black stuff , if I recall.
 
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