Bgreen said:
I know someone who used the cheap 100% clay kitty litter.
It worked for him and all I can say is the root structure of the plants in that tank is incredible! I know the tank is at least 5 years old.
I know that guy! I live with his wife! I have 3 vivs that use a pure kitty litter substrate. All are more than 7 years old now. Kitty litter clay is a really crappy substrate to grow plants in which is why I use it. Here's a link to some info explaining why:
http://www.bbrock.frognet.org/information/general_design_philosophy.htm#substrate
I've learned more about tropical soils since writing that and will be working on some modifications to the substrate mix in the future but have not entirely worked out what I want to try.
If you want to see some old images of the vivs, you can peruse the gallery from the main site
http://www.bbrock.frognet.org The pumilio, auratus, and vittatus vivs have the kitty litter. The pumilio viv looks quite different and is overgrown and needs to be redone. The other two vivs look pretty close to how they did when the photos were taken which was at least 3 years ago.
Just in general, I think the standard philosophy of using nutrient rich soils in vivaria is not the best way to go. I've had arguments with some very well known viviculturists about this and they don't agree. But of course I'M right :wink: