Similar to ABG Mix

[guilletto]

Hi! Anybody can tell me a substrate seemed to ABG Mix? I cant find it in Spain

[tgampper]

Here's how you can make your own ABG mix:
The ABG mix is 2 parts tree fern fiber, 1 part peat moss, 2 parts cocofiber, 1 part charcoal, and 2 parts orchid bark. Depending on species, you could also use 100% cocofiber.

[guilletto]

Im gotting a milk frog in 10 days. I have just arrived from a garden center and it had bromelias, potos, and all necessaries plants.
There wasn't LECA, and they offered me volcanic stone. it is good?

Here's how you can make your own ABG mix:
The ABG mix is 2 parts tree fern fiber, 1 part peat moss, 2 parts cocofiber, 1 part charcoal, and 2 parts orchid bark. Depending on species, you could also use 100% cocofiber.

[tgampper]

Volcanic stone will be too harsh on the frog's skin. If you cannot find cocofiber, try potting soil. Make sure it is organic and fertilizer and chemical free.

[guilletto]

Yes! I can find Cocofiber! But it is used as Substrate and not as drainage, isnt it?

[flybyferns]

Referring back to post #2 that Terry sent to you:

HOW TO MAKE ABG

<The ABG mix is-------- 2 parts tree fern fiber, 1 part peat moss, 2 parts cocofiber, 1 part charcoal, and 2 parts orchid bark>

The ABG I purchase has some dried sphagnum moss in the mix as well.
http://www.joshsfrogs.com/abg-mix-8-...l#.UUuGrRyG2So

As mentioned - be sure all parts are organic and chemical free .........no fertilizer or pesticides.

[J Teezy]

volcanic stone I assume you would be using in place of LECA as your drainage layer. In that case it would never contact your frogs skin. It's pretty close to a product known as growstones, which is what i use as my drainage layer

[guilletto]

volcanic stone I assume you would be using in place of LECA as your drainage layer. In that case it would never contact your frogs skin. It's pretty close to a product known as growstones, which is what i use as my drainage layer

and whats The difference between LECA and those stones?

[J Teezy]

Growstone Demonstration at Max Yield Show in Denver, CO - March 2012 - YouTube

[guilletto]

Growstone Demonstration at Max Yield Show in Denver, CO - March 2012 - YouTube

Where can I purchase? (Internet)

[J Teezy]

amazon has it, or local hydroponic stores usually carry it

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...rds=growstones

[J Teezy]

most vendors carry it now too they just call it something related to their company

NEHERP LDL substrate New England Herpetoculture LLC - Substrate - Vivarium

Josh's Frogs False Bottom Hydroton, LECA, Light Expanded Clay Aggregate, Substrate | Josh's Frogs

etc, etc. They buy it in bulk and just call it their brand its all the same stuff

[guilletto]

got a problem...I live in Spain! But, if you say "volcanic stones" are similar to your growstones, I will buy them!

[J Teezy]

I'm not going to say they are the same but from what I've seen of volcanic stones (lava rock) it seems similiar, but remember volcanic stone is natural made from the lava, growstones are made from recycled glass. You can use pebbles for a drainage layer if you wanted. Your basically wanting something that allows water to pass through it and dissipate or allow you to siphon it out. I don't siphon water out of my tank as it is drilled in the bottom with a bulkhead where the water that makes it through the substrate and into the bottom of the tank just drains out into a bucket. I use the growstones to mainly hide my false bottom on 3 sides and because it holds a little bit of water to keep humidity up. Thing you have to consider is the wicking properties of your drainage layer. if you are using a full drainage layer and dont have a drain in your tank you are going to want something that doesn't wick at all or not bad. LECA / hydroton is know to wick water back to the substrate, now how growstones wicking compare to LECA, I can't comment as I don't know. Here is a picture of my layers of substrate in my tank, but remember the growstones on the bottom are not a full layer, they are just hiding the front and sides of the false bottom.

From bottom of tank up

growstones > window screen divider layer > ABG substrate mix > sphagnum moss > leaf litter

[guilletto]

I dont undestand two sentences because of my bad english:
"I don't siphon water out of my tank as it is drilled in the bottom with a bulkhead where the water that makes it through the substrate and into the bottom of the tank just drains out into a bucket."

" Thing you have to consider is the wicking properties of your drainage layer. if you are using a full drainage layer and dont have a drain in your tank you are going to want something that doesn't wick at all or not bad"

Thnk you so much!