! I am wondering if I could have a dirt substrate with RO water. The reason I am using RO water is because our house has a sodium water softener and plants/fish do not like it whatsoever. I also end up getting algae with that water. So what I do now is use 100% RO with equilibrium, that's it. It's worked fine so far. This is with soft water species. If I ever get African cichlids I will use aragonite sand or what not to buffer and bring that gh, ph, etc up. But anyways, I want to dirt one of my tanks, but I'm afraid that the gasses and what not from the soil will affect the water and cause a pH drop or something like that. So what do you guys think?
RO water and dirt
- Thread starter Maxw47
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Buckfins
Aquarium Advice Freak
Dirt from where? That sounds like a dangerous idea cause you cant really clean and sterilize dirt...I would be afraid of introducing all kinds of bacteria into my tank.
If you dirt a tank you need to use Organic Potting Soil. Many use the Miracle Grow Organic Potting Soil/mix but there are others that can be used as long as they say Organic Potting soil.
As long as your reconstituting your RO water it makes no difference if you use dirt or not. My largest dirted tank right now is a 220g.
As long as your reconstituting your RO water it makes no difference if you use dirt or not. My largest dirted tank right now is a 220g.
Alright. Would seachem's equilibrium be enough for that? I'm pretty sure it doesn't have the greatest buffering qualities, and that's why I am a little worried about the CO2 and what not coming from the soil, especially in the first week or two.
Oh and the dirt would be the miracle grow organic choice
Oh and the dirt would be the miracle grow organic choice
Buckfins
Aquarium Advice Freak
Never would have known you could have a dirt substrate in a tank. Just goes to show you never stop learning.
If your using it correctly then it should be fine. You need to get a Kh and Gh test kit to keep track of them. If Kh falls too much you can always add more buffer to the water between weekly WC's or you can add crushed coral to the filter or in a filter bag under the filter outflow. The organic soil leaches tannins and nutrients during the first few weeks and honestly won't effect your tanks buffering capacity especially in a smaller tank where your not going to be using a lot of the soil.
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