Comparing seachem flourite and flourite black: which is right for you?
Comparing seachem flourite and flourite black: which is right for you?
I'm thinking of using one of these substrates, but I'm unsure about the differences between them - is it just a matter of color? Also, I was wondering if you need to "charge" these products with nutrients for the plants to use, or do they come with them already?
Re: Comparing seachem flourite and flourite black: which is right for you?
From my experience with Flourite, I'd advise against it. I used the black variant a while back and it was a letdown. The colour's irrelevant here, but the issues are real. It's not suitable for substrate-dwelling fish like cories, loaches, or certain cichlids. Two major problems: sharpness and bacterial issues. My plants didn't seem to benefit much either. I replaced it with inert sand in my 70g tank, and the plants grew just as well, with no fish problems.
It's worth noting that Seachem recommends using liquid and tab fertilizers with Flourite, which I found odd. I tried it without ferts, and my plants struggled. Adding ferts improved things, but not more than with sand. In my opinion, it's not worth the investment. After two years, I ended up dumping mine in the garden.
It's worth noting that Seachem recommends using liquid and tab fertilizers with Flourite, which I found odd. I tried it without ferts, and my plants struggled. Adding ferts improved things, but not more than with sand. In my opinion, it's not worth the investment. After two years, I ended up dumping mine in the garden.