The price difference is remarkable, though. I can get a 40 lb. bag for $16.
Because of the density difference, 40 lb. of Profile is perhaps the same
volume as 80 lb. of traditional gravel. If I were setting up multiple large
planted tanks (or even not planted) I would have to consider it.
My understanding is that the Profile/ Schultz Clay Soil Conditioner (the
cheapest, what I used three years ago and still have in two tanks) is
substantially the same as their Aquasoil and Turface products.
I would not count on this product to provide any nutrients at all. I seem to
remember the big selling point here being the large cation exchange capacity
(cec), something important in planted tank substrates. One of my Profile
tanks was set up with laterite mixed in to it, the other one with Profile
only. While the tanks are different in several ways, both are CO2 injected
and the one with laterite definitely has better growth.
I do like the product a lot for capping the soil in my pond plants at
repotting time. I also don't mind throwing the old soil with the old Profile
into my compost pile. I wouldn't do that with gravel.
Pierre Gagne
Kensington, MD
>
> I hear you there. Flourite is ridiculously priced. I've known people to
> use Profile, which is a garden pond planter gravel rich in iron. I think
> Sajjad was using this? It's a heckuva lot less expensive if you can find
> it. Like $6 instead of $19 for a similar sized bag of Flourite.
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