Dirt Convert

[phishyphil]

Okay so after watching countless videos on youtube, reading articles, and generally researching (currently readind Diana Walstad's Ecology of the planted Aquariuam), I have decided to have a go at Dirt substrate in my spare 125 Litre.

Here's What I plan to use:
1 Inch Bed Depth of Organic Compost (Suggestions here would be appreciated)
Kat litter Mix - Here I will mix into clay based cat litter to give the soil a clay component for nutrient absorbency.
Small amounts of sand will be added to the soil also to break up the substrate to allow free moveing roots to grow easily.
Gravel Will then be Capped on top of the soil (would Sand work here?)

Is there any advice to add here? I will be doing heavy water changes during the starting several weeks to deal with the amonia leaks from the dirt)

The Tank will be planted heavily at the start to help deal with the abundance of nutrients available.

 

[mike455555]

good luck...

im doing a dirt and cat litter substrate in a new tank im getting tomorrow (i made it today)

iv heard that John innes compost number 3 is good (its what im useing) its got a high peat content (as well as other stuff)

im capping mine with sand so i hope it works (its going together so tomorrow)

make sure the cat litter doesn't have any additives (it took me 4 shops to find it today, ended up in lidls (not sure if thats the right spelling)

 

[phishyphil]

good luck...

im doing a dirt and cat litter substrate in a new tank im getting tomorrow (i made it today)

iv heard that John innes compost number 3 is good (its what im useing) its got a high peat content (as well as other stuff)

im capping mine with sand so i hope it works (its going together so tomorrow)

make sure the cat litter doesn't have any additives (it took me 4 shops to find it today, ended up in lidls (not sure if thats the right spelling)

Ah so the Cat Litter in Lidl is good for the clay? Do you know the name of the Cat litter mate?

 

[stu40]

If you decide on gravel, i would personally avoid larger sized pea shingle.I have it, and it's a bit of a pain for planting small or fiddly stuff.

 

[mike455555]

i'll check iv got the bag outside... i dont know if its good iv only just made it for the first time. its going in tomorrow. but its the only one i found without added smelly stuff

coshida fullers earth cat litter


its 100% natural so i went for that, it seem like a nice good clay though

john Innes number 3 potting compost is what i used as well it seems to make a fairly nice substrate when mixed

 

[JenCliBee]

Okay so after watching countless videos on youtube, reading articles, and generally researching (currently readind Diana Walstad's Ecology of the planted Aquariuam), I have decided to have a go at Dirt substrate in my spare 125 Litre.

Here's What I plan to use:
1 Inch Bed Depth of Organic Compost (Suggestions here would be appreciated)
Kat litter Mix - Here I will mix into clay based cat litter to give the soil a clay component for nutrient absorbency.
Small amounts of sand will be added to the soil also to break up the substrate to allow free moveing roots to grow easily.
Gravel Will then be Capped on top of the soil (would Sand work here?)

Is there any advice to add here? I will be doing heavy water changes during the starting several weeks to deal with the amonia leaks from the dirt)

The Tank will be planted heavily at the start to help deal with the abundance of nutrients available.

Sounds very feasible to me, you can use pretty much most soils but to be on the safe side there is a John innes one you could try or any specific pond soil will work and more importantly, will be safe... they are all usually loaded with NPK so will work very well.

I would cap with gravel, sand has a tendency to fall to the bottom and the last thing you want is soil based substrates rising into the water column.... very very messy .

 

[JenCliBee]

BTW tesco do a superb cat litter which works very well.... LINK!!!

Needs a very good wash but the end result and look is superb and the bag is about £2.80 for 10L.

 

[mike455555]

lidls £1:79 for a 15Kg bag (maybe 10 i cant remember)

 

[JenCliBee]

lidls £1:79 for a 15Kg bag (maybe 10 i cant remember)

Do you have a link to the one mate.... is it also non clumping and states it moler clay?

 

[phishyphil]

Okay so after watching countless videos on youtube, reading articles, and generally researching (currently readind Diana Walstad's Ecology of the planted Aquariuam), I have decided to have a go at Dirt substrate in my spare 125 Litre.

Here's What I plan to use:
1 Inch Bed Depth of Organic Compost (Suggestions here would be appreciated)
Kat litter Mix - Here I will mix into clay based cat litter to give the soil a clay component for nutrient absorbency.
Small amounts of sand will be added to the soil also to break up the substrate to allow free moveing roots to grow easily.
Gravel Will then be Capped on top of the soil (would Sand work here?)

Is there any advice to add here? I will be doing heavy water changes during the starting several weeks to deal with the amonia leaks from the dirt)

The Tank will be planted heavily at the start to help deal with the abundance of nutrients available.

Sounds very feasible to me, you can use pretty much most soils but to be on the safe side there is a John innes one you could try or any specific pond soil will work and more importantly, will be safe... they are all usually loaded with NPK so will work very well.

I would cap with gravel, sand has a tendency to fall to the bottom and the last thing you want is soil based substrates rising into the water column.... very very messy .

Thanks Mate, Definatly going to go ahead with this then. Ill Pick up a bag of this, and the one Mike recomended also and check which one I think will work best

lidls £1:79 for a 15Kg bag (maybe 10 i cant remember)

Thanks mate, will nip to Lidl tommorrow and pick up a bag.

Might turn this into a journal

 

[mike455555]

its fullers earth its non clumping and i dont sorry.

im doing a Journal on mine =D be interesting to compare results ;p

 

[JenCliBee]

its fullers earth its non clumping and i dont sorry.

What's the colour of it.... im presuming a red/brown colour?..... just checking because there is another type of cat litter which is advised to keep away from which is made of Sepiolite, just confirming for you and the OP that you dont have this type

 

[mike455555]

umm its a brownly colour when wet but when dry its greyish

i'll get pics of it up ...

 

[phishyphil]

its fullers earth its non clumping and i dont sorry.

What's the colour of it.... im presuming a red/brown colour?..... just checking because there is another type of cat litter which is advised to keep away from which is made of Sepiolite, just confirming for you and the OP that you dont have this type

umm its a brownly colour when wet but when dry its greyish

i'll get pics of it up ...

Picks would be great here. And Yeah, a comparison would be a good shout, Help each other out with this

 

[mike455555]

ok pics
you can guess which ones wet and which ones dry ;p

me mixing it with JI no.3