Re: decreasing ph

["Jamie Johnson" <jjohnson@davisfloyd.com>]

> Hello, I am  a complete newbie and the one who asked the question so my 
> answer must be taken with that in mind.  Profile is a similar product to 
> fluorite but much cheaper.  It is a fired clay product but has no nutrients 
> added like I believe fluorite does.  It is sold by Schultz as aquatic potting 
> soil or at Wal-mart as soil conditioner.  The only difference between these 
> two products being cost and grain size.  The cheaper stuff at walmart is only 
> a little smaller in grain size than fluorite.  I got my info from the krib 
> website.  

Profile (Turface by another name) and Flourite are _very_ different. 
Turface (Profile) is a medium hard arcillite (calcined, 
montmorillonite clay) that most probably has been kiln-fired. 
Flourite is a rock-hard, fracted clay. It's mined and is broken down 
to the sizes we use. That's one reason Turface is cheaper.

Check out my article from Planted Aquarium Magazine:

http://home.infinet.net/teban/jamie.htm

No organic matter is added to either; they're just clay. 

>It seems that many people on the aquarium plant digest have had 
> good results with it.   I want to use it in my new tank set up because I 
> would like to find a cheaper alternative to fluorite. 

Going with a Schultz and gravel blend may be the cheapest route. 
It'll work for a planted tank substrate.

> In closing can anybody tell me how often to check my PH after  
> reach my target  number, or is that 
> something I will just have to play around with?  Teresa 

It's all personal preference. If you're breeding and need specific 
conditions, you'll be checking it all the time. If it's a planted tank or 
the like, check it every so often after everything gets settled in. 
With enough alkalinity (~2-4 dK) the pH will level out, with less 
alk., the pH will swing a little. 



Jamie    <"\\\><
Greenwood, SC


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