I suggest using a tone of silicon and apply it with gloves. I also cut and carve all the GS we use in our vivs. We use brown silicone as well and make sure the coco fiber or whatever you use is completely dry. Dawn
I think this was also part of my problem on the first attempt. I had left the coco fibre to 'dry' in the bucket I used to hydrate it. It felt mostly dry to me at the time, but now that I've felt what it's like ACTUALLY dry, I'm convinced I should have waited longer. Impatience is an ongoing struggle haha. This is the 'natural' colour. It's actually not too bad for wicking - about as much as aquarium gravel or similar I would guess. It's fired clay, so it's not as porous as you'd think. Found the specs of the product I'm using: http://www.turface.com/sites/default/files/_media/resource/turface_mvp_data_sheet_3.20.17.pdf
Mike I'm am interested in how you are using it. I have 4 tanks to build! Is it still available in Canada? Is the leaf layer right on the Turface? What are the plants planted in? I imagine it would be crazy good for Springtails Can you detail a little more about how and why you use it?
Hey Jeff - I believe you can still get it from Plant Products. When I picked it up (years ago now) they had a location in Brampton, but it looks like Ancaster would now be the closest to you: http://www.plantproducts.com/ca/contact.php. I'll add more details later tonight...
Got a few minutes now while I wait at Crappy Tire to get tires swapped... Basically I use the Turface as you would any other drainage layer. I put about 1.5-2" in the bottom of the tank. Then a layer of window screen. Then my substrate mix, which is fairly standard: Cocohusk Coco fibre Long fibre spagh Turface Crushed up oak leaves I don't have a super scientific recipe, I just eyeball till it looks appropriate. As for WHY I use it, back a few years ago everyone was experimenting with making their own clay substrates, and trying to supplement the substrate itself with calcium. It was always a fairly involved process getting the clay mix right, screening to the right size, and treating it so that it wouldn't break down into mush in the tanks. I did some research on what was available in a commercially available product and stumbled on Turface, bought a 50lb bag, and here we are. Haha I personally quite like it, though I don't know how much of a difference there is between this and using hydroton. It for sure adds weight. No complaints from frogs, plants, or bugs in the almost ten years I've had it in tanks...
Was able to get a lot of planting done with big thanks to @Drew and @Kim's Nature. Pics to come once things have grown in a bit.
I have used Turface for years in all my tanks at home and work (including my planted fish tank) plants LOVE it as it retains nutrients for them to use! It is a great drainage layer, I don't even use anything between the turface and the substrate as it is very compact and as long as nothing burrows into it everything stays put.
Nice plants Mike! Funny, I always read that it wicks really hard into the substrate. Maybe I will get it a shot!
its all about how thick the layer of turface is compared to the amount of water you have in the tank Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
On top of the middle tank, left to right: random succulent, orchid from Drew that I will check the name of, random succulent, grocery store orchid.