Dirting a tank

Hello all. I want to dirt a tank. I have heard lots of positives about it and have tested it on the small scale and have been very impressed with what I have seen. I am just not sure how to go about doing that. I have a 10 gallon tank. It has plants in it and a flourite red substrate and thats it. I just wanted some advice on how I could reuse this substrate in conjunction with the dirt. Also curious on lighting because I am under the impression my basic house bulb (flourescent) in a heating lamp is not cutting it as of right now. I would appreciate all the help.

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Permalink Reply by Peter on August 30, 2013 at 3:33pm

well u can just break down ur tank. aka drain it put ur fish in the same bucket. then u remove all flourite u add ur dirt layer maybe 1/2 inch layer. then u add ur flourite over it as the cap. like a 1 inch layer. then u plant the heck out of it. and refill and done. as for the light try finding spiral bulbs that are 6500k

http://1000bulbs.com/product/53632/FC23-FEIIS23W64.html 2 of these bulbs would put u at high light 1 will leave u at low to med light.

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Permalink Reply by Blade Rohloff on August 30, 2013 at 8:13pm

Ok thanks a lot. I was wondering too, I was given advice to put some flourite on the bottom, then dirt, then like a black substrate like carib sea or something along those lines? and by plant the heck out of it would, at least 8 Val, a crypt with 6-7 leaves anubias and then a couple java ferns be enough or should I go and buy a few more?

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Permalink Reply by George Barrett on September 16, 2013 at 11:23pm

add some more crypts always cool crypts out there

If you have the bucks go ahead and do the carib sea and mix the dirt and fluorite on the bottom would work great. just did this with my forty

word to the wise though have plenty of plants that will be able to absorb the nutrients your going to be putting in the tank. have the plants and everything ready to go before you do it maybe even draw it up to make it a sick tank. also once you plant in dirt don't move it. so plan ahead of time. dustin has plenty of videos on youtube about all your questions.

for your light you can go to walmart and buy a desk lamp or 2 and put a special bulb in it for plants the one I have is working great got it at petco for like 8$ and the lamp might have been 10$

the bulb specs: zoo med (ultra sun) 6500k super daylight 10 watts if you had 2 of these going that would give 2 watts per gallon pretty good for what you have for plants.