Need Help On Tank Soil

[crago1990]

thanks for the reply, i think it was the stress of moving to a new tank beacuse new leaves have grown back already and are looking alot better! which is good news. looking forward to my ludwigia and hygrophila polysperma coming now. anyone had these plants? hope they can do well in my tank!

 

[aqua786]

hi,im guessing ur in the uk,if you are my advice to you would be to go to a garden center and get some john innes no.3 garden compost and put a 3 inch layer in your tank followed by a thin layer of gravel,then finally pepper over with sand until the gravel is covered,trust me it works a treat,but make sure you top up with fert tablets dugg into the gravel and also liquid ferts once or twice a month! good luck

 

[aqua786]

hi,i wrote a reply to you about the john innes compost and didnt realise you had loads of replies already !!! sorry for being a num nut,but anyway,i had a set up with this particular compost about 6 years ago and i had it set up for two years,i read that your dreading having to dirt your tank in 6 months or a year but i got some good news regarding that,you might not have to do that because if your looking afte your tank right and keep dirt debris at a minimum youll find that in a weird way the compost and the gravel just get better with age,i think its got to do with stuff breakin down in the compost like fish waste and plant bits that get left behind even after cleaning up,i found my substrate just got more fertile as time went on,but i did use tablet ferts inserted in substrate and also used liquid ferts once a month.good luck with your set up anyway kind regards_Rebaka

 

[crago1990]

hi,i wrote a reply to you about the john innes compost and didnt realise you had loads of replies already !!! sorry for being a num nut,but anyway,i had a set up with this particular compost about 6 years ago and i had it set up for two years,i read that your dreading having to dirt your tank in 6 months or a year but i got some good news regarding that,you might not have to do that because if your looking afte your tank right and keep dirt debris at a minimum youll find that in a weird way the compost and the gravel just get better with age,i think its got to do with stuff breakin down in the compost like fish waste and plant bits that get left behind even after cleaning up,i found my substrate just got more fertile as time went on,but i did use tablet ferts inserted in substrate and also used liquid ferts once a month.good luck with your set up anyway kind regards_Rebaka

hello thanks for the reply im liking the news of your compost got better with age! makes this even more worthwhile. i have seen some plant growth so looks like its working but to be honest thought it would be more. thats why im thinking of using co2 which ive put into a different post... noone has replied lmao anyway... u used ferts and root tabs did you? which ones did u use if u dont mind me asking i was thinking about ferts but then wanted co2 but if root tabs and fets do just aswell ill stick with them?

 

[RadaR]

If you went with CO2 then I wouldnt even bother with the compost soil because you'll be dosing enough nutrients via the water column (daily or every other day) anyway. Water changes must also be large and weekly.

 

[crago1990]

If you went with CO2 then I wouldnt even bother with the compost soil because you'll be dosing enough nutrients via the water column (daily or every other day) anyway. Water changes must also be large and weekly.

but ive already got the compost in it would be way to much effort and trouble taking it out again so soon. so you dont think the co2 is a good idea?

 

[RadaR]

Just seen that you already have the soil.
Dont increase the lighting or CO2 just now. Get to grips with low tech and upgrade in a few months if you still want to.
Up to you obviously. Definetly reccomend reading the plant resource centre on this part if the forum.

 

[crago1990]

cool ill have a look in the plant resource centre see what i can find ill post if i can any questons lol

 

[crago1990]

yep after reading that i think im going to head down the road of co2. im not going to rush it tho. i do want to keep with just the soil for a while to give it time to show some decent results. means i get some time planning this co2. need to decide to go with diy or buy the stuff. what would you guys recommend? working till tuesday now so will probs do some research when i have a few days of next week. looking forward to it tho few weeks ago had plants look like rubbish sand that i hated and now i no alot more bout planting i have soil and some nice plants that are growing! good times!

 

[crago1990]

to buy a proper set up is expensive

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLUVAL-PRESSURISED-CO2-SYSTEM-KIT-88g-FISH-TANK-A7545-/200568044091?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2eb2c97a3b

i think i may have to go with the diy method didnt think it would cost that much! unless you guys no any where cheaper?

 

[crago1990]

http/www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14711

anyone tried this before? seems like a good little kit and not as expensive? its an american company tho dont know if you can get it in england?

 

[RadaR]

Easycarbo or pressurized CO2 is the way to go. DIY CO2 is unstable and a lot of effort. Not really reccomended on tanks larger than 20gallon.

 

[crago1990]

had a look at that easycarbo sounds pretty good anyone used it before?