Terrarium Substrate

[Unexpected]

Could this be used for a planted tank?

Amazon.com

 

[Art]

You've got me. Never used it but it looks like it might work.

The ad goes on to say A LOT of things about the benefits of "sub substrate" and volcanic ash and activating bacteria. I would be careful.

May I ask why try this versus some of the others like Landen that are tested in aquarium setting? Then again, I don't know enough about terrariums to know. Perhaps @Krandall has some experience?

 

[Unexpected]

You've got me. Never used it but it looks like it might work.

The ad goes on to say A LOT of things about the benefits of "sub substrate" and volcanic ash and activating bacteria. I would be careful.

May I ask why try this versus some of the others like Landen that are tested in aquarium setting? Then again, I don't know enough about terrariums to know. Perhaps @Krandall has some experience?

Cheaper CEC potential? Just wondering. Not many inert substrate options with decent CEC . I know Safe T Sorb works really well, just brakes down fast.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Cheaper CEC potential? Just wondering. Not many inert substrate options with decent CEC. I know Safe T Sorb works really well, just brakes down fast.

Have you used Safe T Sorb? I have and I haven’t experienced any breakdown with it. I like to use it as “grit” in my soil mixture, but I’ve seen many people use it as substrate alone.

 

[Unexpected]

Have you used Safe T Sorb? I have and I haven’t experienced any breakdown with it. I like to use it as “grit” in my soil mixture, but I’ve seen many people use it as substrate alone.

Never used it, just going off the internet nonsense. Would it last 5 years and come in black?

 

[HardeeParty]

Exo Terra is a subsidiary of Hagen Group (Fluval). I’d put $10 on it being Biostratum in a different bag.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Never used it, just going off the internet nonsense. Would it last 5 years and come in black?

Ahh gotcha. Lol no, afraid it doesn’t come in black unless you put it to its intended use first . Can’t say how long it lasts years wise, but it IS calcined clay so it should stay solid for quite a long time. The only downside is it’s quite light and dusty so a good washing before use is necessary. Some people will sift it out to get rid of the smaller pieces, but IMO it’s not worth doing.

There is seachems black laterite but that’s gonna cost ya for a large tank.

 

[SingAlongWithTsing]

Never used it, just going off the internet nonsense. Would it last 5 years and come in black?

I've used it for like 3 years in one of older scapes (2020~2023), barely any of it broke down. I had my large rocks sitting on eggcrate though and not on the safe-t-sorb.

 

[Unexpected]

Exo Terra is a subsidiary of Hagen Group (Fluval). I’d put $10 on it being Biostratum in a different bag.

Sounds about right. Sneaky!

 

[Pepere]

@Krandall has a lot of experience with Safe T Sorb and reports it holding up well for a long time.

I have some in a tank that hasnt gotten mushy in over a year.

Putting it in mesh bags and capping it with BBDS keeps it from migrating to the surface…. It doesnt look bad in its own right, but I prefere the appearance of BDBS …

If you dont put it in bags, it doesnt take long for it to appear on top…

 

[Krandall]

Cheaper CEC potential? Just wondering. Not many inert substrate options with decent CEC. I know Safe T Sorb works really well, just brakes down fast.

SafeTSorb does not break down fast… in my experience, it doesn’t break down over years!

As far as this product is concerned, I would not have any faith that it was inert. One would certainly NOT want a terrarium substrate to be inert. When making a “scratch” terrarium substrate, it is pretty common to include worm castings for plant nutition. Remember, we do not need to worry about nutrients leaching into the water column in a terrarium.

 

[Krandall]

Never used it, just going off the internet nonsense. Would it last 5 years and come in black?

It’s purpose it to suck up oil on garage floors.. It does not come in different colors.

 

[Krandall]

Ahh gotcha. Lol no, afraid it doesn’t come in black unless you put it to its intended use first . Can’t say how long it lasts years wise, but it IS calcined clay so it should stay solid for quite a long time. The only downside is it’s quite light and dusty so a good washing before use is necessary. Some people will sift it out to get rid of the smaller pieces, but IMO it’s not worth doing.

Or learn how to fill a tank without making a mess. MAYBE I need to upload that article. I can put un-rinsed Safe-TSorb into a tank and have the tank completely clear on filling. And once it is wet, like most substrates, even when disturbed, the dust settles right back out, and doesn’t hang in the water for more than a few hours.

 

[Krandall]

Putting it in mesh bags and capping it with BBDS keeps it from migrating to the surface

What is BBDS?

(And in practice, I find that layering anything tends to end in migration and mixing!)

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Or learn how to fill a tank without making a mess.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

What is BBDS?

Believe the intention was “BDBS ”

Black Diamond Blasting Sand

 

[Pepere]

What is BBDS?

It is a mistake actually. BDBS … Black Diamond Blasting Sand. Inert coal slag…. I prefer the aesthetics of it.

Safe T Sorb in the mesh bags I use has been contained by the bags reliably and roots enter in to the bags readily.

 

[Krandall]

Believe the intention was “BDBS”

Black Diamond Blasting Sand

Ah, yes. I know what that is!