Setting Up Npt Help...

[Sly13Cat]

Hello,
I wanted to set up a dirted tank tomorrow as I'll finally have all the materials. I'll be using Miracle Gro Organic Potting Mix for the soil and Allstate Farms All Purpose Sand as the substrate. I'm gonna put a inch of dirt and about a half inch of sand (for the Hairgrass). How do I clean the dirt? Will it release a lot of Tannins? Will the aquarium be suitable for fish right after it's fully set up because I don't have anywhere to keep the mollies for more than a few hours.

I plan on washing the dirt in a bucket after sifting it to remove the bigger particles. Then I'll add it to the aquarium and once the tannins have died down a bit after a few water changes, I'll fill half way and plant the tank. After planting it, I'll add the sand and do a few water changes until the fine sand particles are gone (I already cleaned the sand but it may need more cleaning). If there's any tannins left, I'll count on the Carbon in the filter to remove the extra tannins. I can do daily water changes as needed. Is this fine? Should I adjust my strategy. A bit of aquascaping advice will help too as all I plan on having is a carpet of dwarf hairgrass and a Red Ludwigia somewhere in there.

The mollies will be replaced by cories after a month or so.

 

[Steve H.]

Hi.

Don't mean to set you in a slight panic with my question in the planted section, but I can share some of my experience with a similar set-up that you are planning.

As I said I used the same exact soil. You definitely need to run it through a screen. You might experience some tannins for a couple of weeks, but with very very small particles it should be minimal if at all. And, tannins don't develop in an instant. My tank would be clear and then get to the color of tea slowly over the course of 7 days. Then I would w/c and the process started all over again.

From my experience with this I think your plan is setting yourself up for a big mess. I never heard anyone washing the soil. It's going to make mud, and IMO going to make it hard to work with. Also, not capping it with the sand might also get a little messy...especially at every w/c.
Planting the tank with water in it was also a hassle for me. Once you penetrate the soil if there is water in the tank it really makes a mess, and after your 1st plant the water will be so muddy you will not be able to see where to place the others.

On my next attempt at this method I will do it in these steps:

Run soil through a screen to remove organics
Drain tank completely
Add soil to tank
Wet soil to weigh it down somewhat (like in a potted plant)
Cap soil with gravel/sand
Plant the tank (before adding water)
Wet sand/gravel to weigh down any particles
Fill tank very slowly

 

[Sly13Cat]

Okay. But if I weigh down particles what happens if I need to vacuum the sand? But I like your idea.

 

[Steve H.]

? Not sure what your asking.

You shouldn't have to vacuum until awhile after you've planted and then filled the tank...then a week or two before your fish have made enough of a mess?

 

[Steve H.]

? Not sure what your asking.

You shouldn't have to vacuum until awhile after you've planted and then filled the tank...then a week or two before your fish have made enough of a mess?

 

[Steve H.]

? Not sure what your asking.

You shouldn't have to vacuum until awhile after you've planted and then filled the tank...then a week or two before your fish have made enough of a mess?

 

[OldMan47]

Sorry to burst your bubble Slycat. If you are going to set up an NPT, ditch the name brand planting soil. They will be set up for "optimum fertility" which is exactly why I am retelling you to not use them. The thing you want in an NPT is nothing but an organic low fertility soil substitute. I used the cheapest material that I could find that was called potting soil. If I recall correctly it was a house brand sold in a discount house with absolutely no claims for fertility or similar characteristics. Yep, it contained absolutely no extras. After about 6 months my tank looked like this.

I am no plant expert but my reading of Diane's book led me to intentionally avoid any potting soil that advertised any benefits whatever. Her definition of the "best" substrate was a common soil substitute that made no claims to fertility. The point that she was trying to make is that fertility in your planted tank comes from unused fish food decaying, not the substrate itself. I make sure that the fish in my NPT tanks are always provided a generous feeding since I know that any excess becomes plant food fairly quickly. After using her methods for about 5 years, I cannot fault her logic.

 

[Sly13Cat]

Sorry there Steve H. I just realized what I asked. I was going to edit it but couldn't really get to the computer.

OldMan47:
There's 2 reasons that soil was bought:

1. Plenty of people have used and reccomended it on the you tube videos I've watched and these people have a pretty good reputation with tons of tanks.

2. On this website about the Walstad Method,, it says that Diana Walstad reccomendes Miracle Gro Organic Potting Soil.
If it wern't for those two reasons, the extra money would have never been spent on the soil.
But I see what you're saying based on the book's reccomendations.