DIY potting soil substrate for a planted tank

Ok, that may help somewhat. It's a real pity that you can't really use burrowing snails like MTS. You'd have that substrate floating in no time.

Does any of the substrate float out when you do poke the holes?

I hear you on the swords root system, but just remember that the plants roots still need some oxygen, so if the substrate does start to go anaerobic, the roots will die back, which could lead to the plant dying. Well, depending on how much of the root system gets affected.

Another thing to try, while you're experimenting anyway, is to get some Anubias barteri and tie them to small stones and drop them onto the substrate. Don't bury them. Their roots will penetrate the substrate from the top and it may help with the prevention of anaerobic pockets. Just remember not to bury the anubias rhizome.

 

Looking good dude, plants are growing like nuts. Are you dosing any ferts or co2? Or is it purely natural?
@Seanj, do you think if there was enough of a root system in the substrate that it can prevent the substrate going anaerobic? Because theoretically, it would be similar to how it is in nature.
What if one plants in this kinda substrate emmersed, and when all plants have settled and have a lekker root system, then flood it.
@dash, hows your water parameters? Have you had ammonia spikes yet and is your ph keeping stable? Ive read that potting soil can drop your ph, which is a good thing I suppose.
Keep us posted on how things are coming along.

Btw, don't take things too personally with @Swagasaurus, that is how he is, to the point, take it or leave it.. hehe. I realised that after reading some of his comments. Bt I doubt he is trying to offend anyone. ... or is he.. haha. (Jokes)

 

Ok so now that all the side chat is out of the way, let me get back to topic. @Seanj I will give your idea a try. The substrate does not float when I give it a poke. Where can I get a hold of some MT snails? Would be interesting to give it a try. @chonkie I am dosing nothing at the moment. Letting nature take its own. My ph is around 6.9.

 

sorry @Sean J got your name incorrect.

 

I would not get Trumpet Snails for this tank! Definitely not! They will mix and churn the substrate way too much! You're definitely better off just using the method that you're currently using! The snails will put all the silica sand under the soil mix, which is definitely something you don't want!

 

I have kept a successful planted tank with potting soil, vermiculite and peat. And agaim I kept a tank woth tge same recipe only for 3 months and started to get really really bad green water algae. Nut can be done. I would also say that a thin layer would be the safest way to go. Hope you have some luck on your side.

 

Thanks. Will keep you guys posted.

 

Hi Dash
The tank looks great brother, thinking of doing a similiar thing with my 1.7m tank, but want to experiment first. ( i got plenty spare tanks).
Question, is it wise to add fish to a tank like this (using your setup)?
Basically, I want to change my mbuna setup to a planted tank, whether your way or a different way is still in the planning stage, but I want to add fish like tetras, corys and eventually Discus.
Watch this post with extreme interest....

 

I have been testing water for about a week now and a bit, seems to be stable at around 6.9 or 7.00. I am sure fish are ok but not discus just yet.

 

thanks Dash, let me know your progress.
Sorry, I won't be able to make the 10th, I got classes that Saturday ... hopefully next meet.

 

Go check out Dustin's fish tanks on youtube and tell me what you think.

 

Guys what do you think about adding a few air stones bellow the substrate at verious places.

 

Wont it mix up the layers?

 

If a few are added the air flow will not be so strong.

 

Should have laid it down when u was 1st puting in the substrate, poke it from time with a kebab skewer

 

my understanding is not that you need air but a minimal amount of circulation - hence the idea of using substrate heaters to increase circulation.

I would not try this on a soil tank ... think of it this way, do you really want to create a soil based UGF?

Later Ferdie

 

Ok understand

 

Deep Sand Beds


A very interesting article

 

Yeap the emphasis is on sand ...

 

Yip I know however I got this from another planted tank forum where the sane principals were applied on a soil tank. Your views?

Also do we have a version of those black worms that are beeing spoken about?