Mixing Flourite with gravel?

[SouthernGal0682]

Someone I was talking to about planted freshwater aquariums suggested to me that I mix my flourite with a small, natural gravel. He said that it would be cleaner and it wouldn't have any effect on my plants growth. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts or experience with this.

[Chrona]

Uh, well I don't know why it would be cleaner, but full flourite works great. Technically you'll have less nutrients with only 1/2 flourite, but it's cheaper, so whatever.

[cocoa_pleco]

PM hobbs.

I think shes doin it

[minabird]

I'm planning to do exactly what was recommended to you, except I'll be adding the fluorite to 4 existing planted/stocked tanks. According to the item description, a 15 lb bag will give you a 2" depth for a typicall 10gal aquarium. I just ordered 5 bags for $16 (US) each from Drs Fosters and Smith this past Friday. Here's the link: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Mixing it will not give you the full concentrations of nutrients as Chrona posted. But since my tanks are already going, I plan on concentrating the fluorite around the plants that I already have planted like I do now with laterite. My thinking is to not use fluorite to discourage new plants from propagating where I want to keep my tank open and "plant free."

[Lady Hobbs]

I was thinking of mixing with sand but tossed the idea out. Actually when you get down to it, the Flourite is not much more expensive than buying gravel so I see no benefit in the savings there.

[minabird]

I was thinking of mixing with sand but tossed the idea out. Actually when you get down to it, the Flourite is not much more expensive than buying gravel so I see no benefit in the savings there.

Hobbs-

If you compare price per pound, gravel is cheaper. $16/15 lb bag (on sale, normally $19/bag) for fluorite vs $16/ 25 lb bag of gravel. Here's the link for plain gravel. [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Glasstapper]

I posted a link in Hobbs' thread that actually talked about mixing it with gravel. From what I understood what the author was saying, it sounded like it didn't matter very much if you used full flourite or flourite/gravel mixture with the only difference being appearance. If there's no difference other than appearance, I'd say save a few bucks and mix it with gravel.

I've personally never used flourite, so I guess I'm not very helpful here.

[SouthernGal0682]

Thanks for all the replys!
I have already purchased enough flourite to fill my whole tank, so I'm not really concerned about the cost. This guy was just telling me that flourite is messy and will cloud up the water whenever it is disturbed, so he suggested mixing it with gravel. I figured it would be just as messy though and good point about 1/2 the nutrients...I think I will stick with all flourite.

[Lady Hobbs]

Hobbs-

If you compare price per pound, gravel is cheaper. $16/15 lb bag (on sale, normally $19/bag) for fluorite vs $16/ 25 lb bag of gravel. Here's the link for plain gravel. [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

I see. I was comparing my 12.95 @ 20 pounds of gravel compared to 15.95 @ 20 pounds of Floruite. Figured the difference at about $15. But........$15 is 15 dollars when you have several tanks.

[minabird]

I see. I was comparing my 12.95 @ 20 pounds of gravel compared to 15.95 @ 20 pounds of Floruite. Figured the difference at about $15. But........$15 is 15 dollars when you have several tanks.

True...any $ saved is well worth it. I have 5 tanks setup and another one waiting to go into the basement after I redo it. My friends were laughing at me when I told them I spent nearly $100 on gravel for my fish tanks. They said I should have spent that money on sushi instead!!

[Chrona]

True...any $ saved is well worth it. I have 5 tanks setup and another one waiting to go into the basement after I redo it. My friends were laughing at me when I told them I spent nearly $100 on gravel for my fish tanks. They said I should have spent that money on sushi instead!!

Pft, 60 pounds of quality substrate > 25 cups of Starbucks coffee anyday.