Just a little walstad tank experiment

Too cute!

 

hi camcam i applaud you for taking the leap to do a dirted tank and it looks great. i have a 4 ft tank that's empty atm and i'm curious to find out what brand potting mix did you use? i'm from Stanger which is an hour from Durban and the only potting mix i can source is GROMOR. from what i gather in all the reading materials iv'e read so far, it states that the potting mix has to be screened to remove the bark and floating chunks and then rince and dry repeatedly about 3 times to mineralize the potting mix. now do i have to add any ferts to the potting mix before capping?
do i add the potting mix dry to the tank before capping? the list goes on...
please do share...


regards,
Imran Sheik

 

I used Gromor, I didn't screen it but I picked out the bigger chunks, also, I didn't wash the soil, perhaps I should have but i didn't have any problems, the dirt adds more than enough nutrients to the tank so i wouldnt add any extra ferts or anything, i suggest adding as many plants as possible to use up any excess nutrients from the potting soil otherwise you'll get a ugly algae problem. so the more plants the better, when you think there are enough, add more! if you screen the soil and mineralize it will only be good for the tank,

 

Camcam is right about plants... More is less! (More plants = less algae) Advanced tip, research fast growing low tech plants.

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that being said, i forgot to mention that i'd like to get water column feeders. would that pose a problem if i add potting mix?

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Are you only getting column feeders? It might long term... I don't actually know. If you don't get any rooting plants it might defeat the purpose off getting a dirted tank... Mmm, more research may be required.

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ok so i might wana get some rotala rotandifolia, dwarf hair grass and some other stem plants that will benefit both from the substrate and water column. i read that rotalas feeds off the water column as well. stanger is a small town with just one petshop that doesn't offer anything except goldfish and fake plants.

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that being said i need to find out where in Durban can i source plants and hardscape?

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There are several vendors who ship overnight courier. Maybe also ask in the classifieds section for people in they region who might have spare plants willing to sell. If you want I can drop you some links of online plant retailers.

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that will be great aquaman...

 

http://www.betterweather.co.za/shop

Eden Aquatics' webpage I see is suspended. Maybe they closed

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