dirt tank

[tiger terror]

Just dirted my 10g tank today& cloudy as expected..wandering if anyone has done so themselves,any and all input would be aqqreciated..also capped the soil with Eco-Complete simply because I had extra laying around..

 

[radek]

I'm using soil in my tanks and don't have any cloud. On the top of soil must be 2" of gravel and you must add water very slowly.

 

[MABJ]

I'm using soil in my tanks and don't have any cloud. On the top of soil must be 2" of gravel and you must add water very slowly.

Gravel or sand, but this really is the best way to do it yeah. If you fill it slowly, with a siphon even, you shouldn't get too much cloudiness

 

[radek]

Gravel or sand, but this really is the best way to do it yeah. If you fill it slowly, with a siphon even, you shouldn't get too much cloudiness

I prefer gravel. Sand blocking circulation and nothing can go inside the substrate. Fish waste need be go inside the gravel and feed our plants too.

 

[MABJ]

I prefer gravel. Sand blocking circulation and nothing can go inside the substrate. Fish waste need be go inside the gravel and feed our plants too.

Interesting. I've never personally done it, but Ive read of more people using sand.

I know that roots and plants can definitely move easier through the lighter sand, and I know many plants can absorb nutrients through leaves and stems.

 

[MickeyA]

I prefer gravel. Sand blocking circulation and nothing can go inside the substrate. Fish waste need be go inside the gravel and feed our plants too.

Your right about the sand blocking circulation but the sand also locks in the nutrients in the soil from leaking into the water as quickly also if you get some trumpet snails they burrow and will get under the sand and mix those into the and soil but gravel does do good as well for you poster I'd recommend amano's book and diana walstead also dustinsfishtanks and aquastudent on YouTube they know planted tanks pretty good I've personally learned alot fr them.

 

[radek]

Interesting. I've never personally done it, but Ive read of more people using sand.

I know that roots and plants can definitely move easier through the lighter sand, and I know many plants can absorb nutrients through leaves and stems.

I tried to use sand in my tank but it was a bad idea. After several weeks, the sand was getting black and smelly because there was no access of oxygen to the deeper layers and the resulting anaerobic zone. Trust me, the roots of plants are strong enough to grow in the gravel. One of my tank is 1 year old and the plants are still growing very well. Do not add any fertilizer and CO2 to my tanks.
And one more thing. Plants absorb much easier and much more nutrients by the roots than the leaves.

 

[radek]

Your right about the sand blocking circulation but the sand also locks in the nutrients in the soil from leaking into the water as quickly also if you get some trumpet snails they burrow and will get under the sand and mix those into the and soil but gravel does do good as well for you poster I'd recommend amano's book and diana walstead also dustinsfishtanks and aquastudent on YouTube they know planted tanks pretty good I've personally learned alot fr them.

Very accurate indications of the books. I also took note of information provided by dustinsfishtanks on YouTube and adapted it to my needs.

If the layer of gravel is at least 2" is nothing of the soil does not get into the water column. I also for the prevention of mixing the soil with gravel used a net (net used for the screens in the windows).

 

[jetajockey]

To deal with the cloudiness I usually mix my soil with clay which helps serve as a flocculant. With tanks that I've had to pull plants out of there is the inevitable soil cloud, a water change is really the best thing at that point, and as mentioned be careful when adding water back in.

Have a look at freshwater deep sand beds on google, that combined with the heavy root feeders will usually alleviate the fears of having a soil/sand tank.

 

[MABJ]

I will say, just because it didn't work for you, doesn't mean it won't work for others. I merely pointed out his option for both .

I love the Walstad method and her readings ever since someone here pointed it out to me. Definitely recommend.

 

[radek]

I will say, just because it didn't work for you, doesn't mean it won't work for others. I merely pointed out his option for both .

I love the Walstad method and her readings ever since someone here pointed it out to me. Definitely recommend.

I give my information from the practice. If you have any other experience with the practical application of gravel or sand it would be pleased to take them. In my case I have for theorizing behind me. Now I'm interested in only the facts of life, not a contrived theories.

 

[MABJ]

I haven't contrived my theories. Quite the contrary. I've taken them over time from people here on this good forum.

Just because I haven't practiced them doesn't mean others here haven't. I'm sure, based on jeta's response, he even recognizes sand and gravel caps as functioning.

I'm not advocating one over another. Again, I was just saying both are possible. I hope that doesn't come off as argumentative.

 

[radek]

I haven't contrived my theories. Quite the contrary. I've taken them over time from people here on this good forum.

Just because I haven't practiced them doesn't mean others here haven't. I'm sure, based on jeta's response, he even recognizes sand and gravel caps as functioning.

I'm not advocating one over another. Again, I was just saying both are possible. I hope that doesn't come off as argumentative.

I certainly do not want to argue. Before use the soil in my tanks I read a lot on various forums on the use of soil and the upper layer. From the information I found on the network and from my experience I know that gravel is often used in aquariums with soil and no soil. Using a thicker layer of sand will certainly rise up anaerobic zones which can be dangerous for our tank, and on its surface will be to collect all waste.

 

[MABJ]

I certainly do not want to argue. Before use the soil in my tanks I read a lot on various forums on the use of soil and the upper layer. From the information I found on the network and from my experience I know that gravel is often used in aquariums with soil and no soil. Using a thicker layer of sand will certainly rise up anaerobic zones which can be dangerous for our tank, and on its surface will be to collect all waste.

Oh you're absolutely right, it's quite possible. Sorry I have a hard time reading some of your postings. That's why A LOT of people use the ever helpful MTS (Malasayan Trumpet Snail) it turns the sand over and prevents any dangerous zones.

 

[rkilling1]

And one more thing. Plants absorb much easier and much more nutrients by the roots than the leaves.

That is true for terrestrial plants, but not aquatic plants.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

I have used both gravel and sand as a cap in dirt tanks and prefer sand. My experience with gravel is it lets more dirt make it's way to the surface causing more mess and clouding. IMHO anaerobic pockets are over rated. My dirt tanks released gas pockets from the substrate daily, some of which smelt of rotting eggs. I have witnessed these gas pockets break the surface of the substrate and actually hit fish without any ill effects. These gasses may be toxic to the fish but the bubbles hit the surface of the water within a second and the gas dissipates quickly.

 

[MickeyA]

That's true but alot of hobbyist don't always use true aquatic plants in there tanks.

 

[MABJ]

That's true but alot of hobbyist don't always use true aquatic plants in there tanks.

I'm not exactly sure what point you're trying to make here. Their tanks most likely aren't dirt tanks then lol. Anybody looking at a gravel or sand cap for a dirt tank most likely knows a thing or two about aquatic plants.


Mumma, thanks for that story! It is kind of cool how you witnessed it. Can you see the bubbles in the dirt from the sides of the tank ever?

 

[rkilling1]

That's true but alot of hobbyist don't always use true aquatic plants in there tanks.

Touché

 

[rkilling1]

I'm not exactly sure what point you're trying to make here. Their tanks most likely aren't dirt tanks then lol. Anybody looking at a gravel or sand cap for a dirt tank most likely knows a thing or two about aquatic plants.

I took the 'true aquatic' comment to mean not those that are only terrestrial, semi aquatic, or bog plants. There are those that are only aquatic and they only make up a low percentage of the plants we grow in our tanks.

True aquatics have adapted to receive their nutrients through their leafs and their roots are primarily used as an anchor.

Semi aquatic when grown out of the water develop a thicker skin (we'll just call it that) to stop evaporation of the water inside of it. The roots are there to deliver more water to the rest of the plant as well as bring nutrients with the water. Did you ever wonder why the emersed grown always dies off when you put them in the aquarium? It sheds this skin for one that is better for assimilating CO2 and nutrients since it doesn't need the thick skin to stop the moisture loss in the water.

I know, going off topic, but at least we are adding to the thread. Sorry.