Peat/sand/hardwater

[Stewartb]

I live in a hardwater area and intend to quite heavily plant a tank 6 1/2 feet long about 2 feet wide and about 27 inches depth from tubes to floor of tank:

I have been advised to use peat with sand over the top, could I go cheap and buy ordinary gardeners multicompost and play sand from a diy store?

Also the depth of tank and hardness of water were said to reduce the range of plants that would be ok, what plants would you suggest?

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.



Thanks

Stewart

 

[thereverendturtle]

Depends on how hard your water is and what type of lighting you are running.

 

[ParadiseGuerrero]

keep in mind that peat will soften the water too

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I'd use John Innes compost, think its NO.3, then cap it with sand. Only problem is sand isn't all that great for letting water flow through it so you my be waiting a while for it to soften your water.

 

[Stewartb]

Depends on how hard your water is and what type of lighting you are running.

I live just off Salibury plain, so it is a very chalky area. I did a test offering 4 parameters for GH and it was at the max for about all I think >21 d. As for the lights, well if I can get the existing system working 2 30 watt tubes, but I do have 2 40 watt tubes that otherwise I could use.

So I wouldn't need to buy pond peat or proper aquarium sand?

 

[stu40]

So I wouldn't need to buy pond peat or proper aquarium sand?

The short answer would be no.Plenty of plants will adapt to hard water.Both Ianho & Lljdma06 live in areas with hard water and produce fantastic tanks.Look through the 'journals'
regular playsand is fine if you want to go down that route.

 

[snowflake311]

I'd use John Innes compost, think its NO.3, then cap it with sand. Only problem is sand isn't all that great for letting water flow through it so you my be waiting a while for it to soften your water.

Agree.

For the peat moss to work it needs some kind of water flow. You can add peat to the filter to soften water. But if you really want good plant growth and soft was you can try and get some ADA.

Sand is useless for plants IME. You could use a layer of peat moss with an insert type substrate.

 

[Stewartb]

I'd use John Innes compost, think its NO.3, then cap it with sand. Only problem is sand isn't all that great for letting water flow through it so you my be waiting a while for it to soften your water.

Agree.

For the peat moss to work it needs some kind of water flow. You can add peat to the filter to soften water. But if you really want good plant growth and soft was you can try and get some ADA.

Sand is useless for plants IME. You could use a layer of peat moss with an insert type substrate.

Sorry, what does ADA mean(I did search the forum)? I thought the sand was to hold down the peat? I guess you meant "inert" type substrate, but I don't know what you mean.
I really am grateful for all of your help.

 

[Stewartb]

Actually by looking around the web I've become interested in using cat litter as a substrate rather than flourite, laterite or whatever. I've just had a look in Aldi and theirs seems to 100% clay and costing £1.79 for 10kg. What about the idea of using an all cat litter substrate?

 

[stu40]

Actually by looking around the web I've become interested in using cat litter as a substrate rather than flourite, laterite or whatever. I've just had a look in Aldi and theirs seems to 100% clay and costing £1.79 for 10kg. What about the idea of using an all cat litter substrate?

ADA=Aqua Design Amano.You may have heard of him

you can use cat litter as a substrate.Tesco low dust is mentioned a lot.I use it.Search for 'cat litter' on here and lots of threads should appear.
It starts inert but has a high Cation Exchange Capacity
Hope this helps

 

[BigTom]

I wouldn't worry too much about having hard water. Most plants should do OK assuming the rest of their needs are met (there are exceptions). Soil substrates can be very effective for growing plants, but be aware that almost all the commercial composts you can buy (including the much touted John Innes No. 3) will further raise your hardness as they tend to contain lime and fertilisers.

Can litter will be fine if you are dosing ferts regularly, as it has a high CEC and will happily hold on to excess fertilisers form the water column, but contains no nutrients itself.

 

[snowflake311]

Don't use litter it will break Down too fast yuk.

You could use dirt. People do dirt tanks all the time it is kind of old school. You add a thin layer of pea gravel to the top and it is good to go. There is aquatic soil for water gardens that can work.

Just get an plant insert substrate from the LFS. Yea substrate with high CEC is what you want. It will last a long time. I use it and have for years it's good.

There is stuff called Akadama Double Red Line Soil. It's for bonsai plants. It is an active substrate that will strip your water of it's KH and there for lower the PH. This stuff has a crazy high CEC it will absorb lots of nutrients in time and make those nutrients available for the roots it's a good thing. I use this as my base layer in my 80gal planted tank.

 

[stu40]

Don't use litter it will break Down too fast yuk.

You need to get the right one.The one i mentioned is fired clay.

 

[Stewartb]

Is there any real benefit to adding a commercial aquarium substrate to cat litter or Akadama to boost it (perhaps in the areas more densely planted)? Would it contain any useful stuff eg nutrients that they wouldn't?

 

[stu40]

Root plugs?