Diy Substrate

[mike455555]

do you think i would have any problems if i mixed 100% clay cat litter with top soil and the capped it with sand? would this be a good set up for a heavily planted tank?

thanks =D

 

[Ps3Steveo]

So long as the top soil is suitable for an aquarium it shouldn't be a problem. People use both then cap them so I don't see why mixing them would cause a problem.

 

[mike455555]

top soil from my garden? think it would be suitable? im guessing you meant it doesn't have any chemicals sprayed on it?

cat litter and stream mud? if that gets disturbed will it cloud the water?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I dunno about garden soil mate, there are a few people that use soil on here but I'm pretty sure its something like John Innes no.5 or something like that.

 

[mike455555]

i think i'll give cat litter + soil a go...

worst problem would be algae?
i think its worth a shot


what type of cat litter do i need to buy?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I wouldn't use just any old top soil. It should be sterilized at the very least. And any clay litter that is 100% clay with no perfumes, dyes or additives should be all right.

 

[mike455555]

how would i go about sterilising it?... bake it? or bleach it then decholo?

 

[ian]

you can use top soil, however i personally wouldn't. You just can't guarantee what has been on it. John Inness number 3 is the weapon of choice when using soil.

 

[mike455555]

why wouldn't you use soil? and why that type of soil?

will cat litter make my water go cloudy if disturbed?

 

[This Old Spouse]

In all honesty, if I were to do this I'd be using materials meant for the aquarium, rather than risking the lives of my fish by experimenting with the unknown.

 

[mike455555]

well im going to make it tomorrow i think its going in a 2f aquarium ( im going to be doing a journal on it), so i'll let you know how it go's (the filters cycled already as im getting it from a friend)guppies will have to live in a 30L container for a day (i'll put the heater and filter in it)

i think i might use topsoil (just because i dont know where i can pick up JI.no3 from quickly), i might bake it before hand

do you mix the cat litter with water and then add it to the tank? or put it down dry

 

[ian]

In all honesty, if I were to do this I'd be using materials meant for the aquarium, rather than risking the lives of my fish by experimenting with the unknown.

John Innes number 3 has been used for years as an planted under substrate. It's one that's advised by Diana Walstad.

http/theaquariumwiki.com/Walstad_method#Soil_types

 

[mike455555]

i'll see if i can pick some up... where can i get Bentonite cat litter from?

 

[mike455555]

ok i went out an got cat litter. its said natural fullers earth (it has a product number so im going to check it on line)

and JI no.3

im going to mix them 1/1 i think maybe add water then drain it off (abit like sand washing)

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Cool cool was thinking you can get it from most garden centres.