Gravel Over Compost?

ellena · Dec 7, 2009

So I'm trying to get another 5 gall for my betta at work. I'm thinking of planting with just amazon swords and having some moss balls too. I want black substrate and I'm going to try Honeythorn's idea of pond compost under the substrate instead of cat litter. I'm hoping this means the swords will be OK without additional fertilisation as they are slow growing.
What I'm wondering is, if I use black gravel instead of sand (as it seems easier to find) will I be able to clean it? If I stir it up, I'll disturb the compost won't I?
Thanks for any thoughts

Forestpisces · Dec 7, 2009

I tryed this and had disasterous results i had to strip down my entire 35litre clean it and sift the compost out of the sand as it mixed with it and caused problems. I know others have done this and had great success but now i just shove root tabs in the sand ( only the hardiest of plants survive in my tanks mind lol). It may work better with gravel though as it has more structure than sand and shouldn't mix with it. I'd say you should just gravel vac normally but bve carefull not to go too deep into the gravel.

ellena · Dec 7, 2009

So you had compost and sand and it didn't go well? How thick layers did you use? I've done under 1cm of cat litter with 3cm sand and it's been OK. Just wasn't sure if I could get the gravel clean by just gently vaccing the very top?

Truck · Dec 7, 2009

you could go for a black substrate and clay cat litter, just do the clay cat little, but avoid the edges, I did this on mine, and you wouldn't know its there.

ellena · Dec 7, 2009

And would gravel work with that? Or does it have to be sand to make that 'sealed' layer?
Anyone know where I could get small bags of nice black sand?

Truck · Dec 7, 2009

unipac do a very fine gravel, aqua essentials stock it, I wouldn't go any bigger than the unipac stuff.

Honeythorn · Dec 7, 2009

I've never actually tried it with gravel as I have sand over the aquatic soil in my 30 gal. I think gravel alone may not work as well because it doesn't cover as well as sand and bits of soil will come floating up.

I'd say go with sand. Or if you like, a 1cm layer of soil, 2 cm of sand and a 1cm layer of gravel over the sand if it's the look of gravel you like.