Planted tank substrates

[succinctfish]

I came across this interesting article while browsing.  It has a fascinating breakdown of various substrate options.  Science people here will love it, but it's pretty accesible to those of us who didn't realize the periodic table was of any usefulness in the real world

http://home.infinet.net/teban/jamie.htm

[BigDaddy]

Too much emphasis on iron.. which is a micro nutrient and highly over-rated for successful planted aquariums.

I've seen this list on the APD... it has its good points and its bad points.  For example.. a lot of people (myself included at one time) touted CEC as an important value... in reality with the vast majority of aquatic gardeners focusing on liquid suppliments, really then who cares if the substrate has a high CEC... the nutrients are in the water with the plant extracting it through foliar feeding.  Of course, there are exceptions (tanks with lots of crypts and swords)....

Overall, it is interesting to see the data... but it still doesn't want to make me try Kitty Litter (what a mess!)

[succinctfish]

Come on, kitty litter would be an adventure!
My cat is already completely fascinated by the aquarium, if I tell her to go see her fish, she jumps up on the stool and stares at them.  Occasionally she'll bat at the fish as they swim by, and stop to stare at her.   Imagine poor kitty's confusion if I put her bathroom substrate in the fish tank

[kennyman]

I had a look at that article a month or two ago here on ovas. I thought it made a good companion to some other articles that include the role substrate plays in plant growth. I forget who had posted it but it was a good read.

Along with some rock solid advice from "The All-Knowing Babblefish" I used this and other related articles to make the decision to try a Walstad Style Tank  

[jetstream]

I did tried using kitty litter and regular soil in a pot as substrate for some of my swords and crypts before, Both gave me very fine root system; very fine roots instead of few large ones compare with others substrate. The plant's leaves looked much better too. I would like to give the ADA a try if possible, because my friend's plants out score me in all areas without dosing any liquid supplements.