Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Matt on June 27, 2014 at 11:54am

So I went to a lfs earlier, pretty average looking poor selection of plants, instantly tried to put me off dirt and sell me a pressurised co2 system with lots of sharp intakes of breath. Boo indeed! Anyone interested in some free endlers? I'm in North East Derbyshire

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by LED on June 27, 2014 at 1:57pm

Just a word of caution, remember more dirt doent always mean better planted tank.  Try out a very small layer of dirt.  If you can amend the dirt with other things like dolomite and such for minerals that would be great.

Heres a post for mineralized dirt that ive used

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on June 27, 2014 at 6:31pm

Thanks for the advice, I was thinking of using just half an inch initially and going with plants that are relatively straightforward. I was thinking of using this soil I used in my pond, what do people think?

http://www.gardenhealth.com/products/indoorspecialist/aquatic-compost

I have also read that duckweed will be good to have in an initial setup, the water hyacinths from my pond have sent off small runners, could I float this with similar effect. Sorry for all the ridiculous questions, I'll definitely be posting pictures with progress soon and may also show my diy filter, please don't be too harsh :-)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on June 28, 2014 at 7:35am

Hi started on it today, here's the deal so far.

The dirt's gone in, Westfield aquatic compost (pond leftovers, plus no magical miracle grow here) then topped with Congo sand. Boom!

Attachments:

• IMG_20140628_115240.jpg, 1.8 MB
• IMG_20140628_123059.jpg, 2 MB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on June 28, 2014 at 2:40pm

Plants! Sag, curly whirly vals (I believe that's the Latin), anubias nana, crypts, Amazon swords (too big really but I love them) and tiger lotus

Attachments:

• IMG_20140628_182958.jpg, 2.8 MB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on June 28, 2014 at 3:01pm

Constructive criticism please ☺

Plus my pretty rough looking filter

Attachments:

• IMG_20140628_195816.jpg, 2 MB
• IMG_20140628_195828.jpg, 1.8 MB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by LED on July 2, 2014 at 10:30am

I think that soil is great.  I wish we had that in the states so we could recommend it to people who dont know where to begin.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on June 28, 2014 at 5:14pm

The mystery plant

Attachments:

• IMG_20140628_221041.jpg, 2 MB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by LED on July 2, 2014 at 10:34am

so far I like the tank.  Do you have anything attached to that drift wood?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on July 2, 2014 at 12:01pm

Hi mate, I have some anubias nana on there, thinking about attaching some java Moss on the next big water change, what do you think?

Some vallis leaves have browned a little, should I remove them down to the root?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Juanarium on July 10, 2014 at 4:26pm

I recently went to dirt and am gald I did. A month in and the plants love it. Pics to come.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt on July 10, 2014 at 4:33pm

Hey juanarium, I'd like to see that, my new scape has been running for a month nearly. What soil did you use? Are you rolling with co2? what plants do you have? I've got, dwarf sag, vallisneria, lilaeopsis Brazilianis (spell check please), Amazon sword and the biggest success with the most growth tiger lotus. For fauna I've got chilli rasboras and cpd. I'll take some pictures on the next tidy up and water change

• ▶ Reply