Mike Thennet.
"Denkhaus, Robert" wrote:
> The biggest reason for using kitty litter (or other clay) substrate is that
> clay is the smallest of the 3 basic types of soil (sand and silt are the
> other two and are considerably larger). Each tiny particle of clay has a
> relatively large surface area when compared to its mass. The surface area
> of the individual particles is where nutrients are held for later plant use.
> Relatively large sand particles can't hold the same amount of nutrients and
> of course, gravel can hold even less. More nutrients available = greater
> plant growth (in theory). This is also one of the reasons that wetlands are
> able to "purify" water because the hydric soils are able to trap
> contaminants more efficiently than other types.
>
> Rob Denkhaus
> Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
> "El muerto a la sepultura, el vivo a la travesura"
> "The dead to burial, the living to mischief"
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: dakota
> > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2001 9:42 AM
> > To: NATURNUT_at_aol.com; nanfa at aquaria.net
> > Subject: NANFA-- Re: Kitty Litter...
> >
> >
> > Dan, the reason kitty litter is used in the bottom layer of
> > planted tanks is
> > that it helps bind up the nutrients from the water and
> > thereby letting the
> > plants roots take them up eaiser.
> > Or something like that.... :O)
> > Charles A.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <NATURNUT_at_aol.com>
> > To: <dakota6-at-mindspring.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 10:36 PM
> > Subject: Re: NANFA-- U/G and plants?
> >
> >
> > > Charles,
> > > Thanks for your input. I just have one more
> > question, how smal is
> > too
> > > small for sand particle size for UG filters? __Dan
> >
> >
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/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org