When you say DIRT................
Hi all,
I am about to set up a second tank, mainly for quarantine, but also to grow plants. I was looking around for cheap substrate and came across videos talking about 'dirt', is this dirt from my back garden or is this something I should go and buy? I need to get on to this asap to any comments will be welcomed...... also the peat..... is this regular garden peat they on about?
Cheers
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy I on
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uhh... sorry, what? I couldn't decifer a word of your grammar. Please re-type in english so that I may provide a counterpoint for every individual arguement you attempted to make.
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Permalink Reply by kay Kay on
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While you all were agreeing to disagree....
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The dirt and silt
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I'm not crazy about the sand cap Kay. Its pretty but Jeremy makes a good point about anaerobic bacteria. Sand compacts and can suffocate your plants. (If it isn't sand ignore this reply). Soil is a good choice but it can't be too deep or be covered with anything too dense. Things can go terribly wrong including ammonia spikes.
Even when the soil runs out of nutrients you can fertilize it. Every substrate - terrestrial or aquatic - will eventually become exhausted. I like soil because this natural substance has a high CEC. That's the ability to capture and hold minerals for plants' roots. Things like sand and gravel have no CEC; so the ferts escape into the water column and invite green water algae.
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I'd scoop out as much sand as possible. The rest of it can be mixed in with the dirt. Add gravel as the cap or, if possible, clay pebbles. Its even better than gravel and goes by the name Flourite. You can also buy straight clay pebbles sold in automotive supply stores - its super cheap. Dustin capped a tank with sand in one of his videos and had to dismantle the whole thing soon thereafter. His advice is excellent - and entertaining.
Logan says he's had no problem with sand. I believe him. For everyone on this site who says do "A", there is someone who has done "B" with more success. It makes you humble. I find the differences fascinating; science is amazing and often baffling.
Having said all this, I wouldn't mess with the sand.
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I almost forgot. The substrate looks kind of deep. Jeremy made some good points in his post regarding dirt. There is a downside. I wouldn't go over 2 inches on the dirt mix. Less is probably better. Add a one inch cap.
My football team is playing now on national TV. Good luck Kay. Go Patriots!
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hnmmmm, ok. Maybe I should have used gravel......the plants come tomorrow. I added a mature filter to help with cycle as I want add fish as soon as possible.
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Permalink Reply by Mr Meseeks on
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I have gotten so many emails from people replying to this post... but yea when i saw the vid i thought you were recording the tank with just a hose in it the water was so clear didnt even know you were filling it untill you went to the top, some people are saying youll have problems with the sand as a cap, i have a dirted tank with a sand cap and ive had no problems at all, for the first few days to a week you are going to have alot of co2 bubbles coming up through the sand just take something and poke through the sand every few days if your worried about alot of gas build up, also you will most likely get green water for a week or so from the excess nutrients but a few water changes and it will go away, another thing for future reference, i didnt do this but wish i had, put some sand against the front glass panal so you cant see the dirt i think it looks kinda ugly seeing the dirt under the sand in the front but thats just my opinion.
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