Aquarium Soil

[divy]

hi all i was just wondering if any one has 1.5-2 kg of aquarium soil spare and would sell it to me?

the reason i ask is that im going to have a go at planting my 5l or 6.6l tank

if no one does anyone know of any online shops that sells 2-5kg bags because all i have seen is large bags 10kg and up

thanks

steven

[bunkum]

This stuff is the best there is

http://www.aquariumproductswholesale.com/c...tail&p=2204

[kitstyles]

What type of soil you after?

Chinatown aquarium, Aquaticscape or boronia aquarium usually stock ADA soil 3L

[divy]

hey kitz have you bought anything recently from Boronia?

i sent them a email last week about one of there tanks and they never replied plus i read some where that there closing but im not sure its true

[kitstyles]

I haven't bought anything from them lately.. Maybe give them a call to find out?

btw just went to boronia website and they don't have ADA soil in the online shop anymore.

[Jess]

There is Eco Complete which I have heard is pretty good. It is pricey though. Might want to google or talk to your LFS. I am pretty sure it comes in a smaller bag then 9kg.

[Chuckie]

Just for a slightly different idea, I put a layer of potting mix in my empty tanks, soak in a few cm water for a couple of days til it sinks, then a good layer of good aquarium substrate (coarse river sand = small gravel) and plant in that. It's very inexpensive, but of course you have to make sure the potting mix doesn't have any chemical additives. It seems to work really well. Just a thought, in case you have trouble getting the Eco or ADA stuff.

[divy]

i was growing HC and dwarf hair grass that kitz gave me in tank they way you suggested lilli but when i filled the tank it was alllways brown because of the potting mix soil, soil i scrathed that idea and for the last couple of weeks ive been growing it in a container the emersed way and its growing quite well

JP21 (jen) is sending me some eco complete so now i can set-up my mini planted tank yay! and re-plant the hc and hair grass

thanks again for that jen!

[brettc777]

Have to watch out for Eco. I bought the live version and its got large grit sizes up to around 1cm+.

I would have to say with the live version HC would be nearly impossible to plant and to grow well.

If you are getting the dry version that should be ok the grit size is smaller.

[Chuckie]

If you soak the potting mix, then bury it with a layer of the gravel, the water shouldn't stain. Maybe mine did, but I like tannins so wouldn't have cared! had driftwood in there too anyway.

[Figure_8]

I've used potting mix in the past with good results.. it was the only time my black thumb showed any hint of green lol

I had a thick layer of river sand over the top and got no water staining at all.

[Chasing Sanity]

Bumping an old thread to avoid starting a new one! When people say potting mix, how do I know which one to use? and how thick? I had a test pond with a 1 inch layer of organic potting mix and it kept releasing bad gas and making my pond smell.

[Chuckie]

try a peat based one rather than woodchip based one. If you bury it under sand or gravel it shouldn't release any odours.

[Peter16]

I used one called pot n peat, Its a peat based one i guess for small indoor pots.

Its going well, gets a little annoying if i bury a plant too deep and i disturb it, then crap floats up everywhere but settles fast.

Other then that, no complaints so far.

[Chasing Sanity]

Will have to hit Bunnings tommorrow and see what I can find.

Thanks

[JUNGLE]

Try Debco 'Pot Power'.

It is GUARANTEED to grow plants [by Debco].

It has been innoculated with beneficial fungi and bacteria.

I sift out the lumpy bits and mix it with a small amount

of powdered clay.

Place 2cm on the floor of your tank and soak[same as Lilli]

Then cover it with 5cm of gravel or sand.

To avoid a mess,use airline to siphon water into the tank.

Should be clear water straight away.

[holycow]

potting mix is okay if you're not disturbing the substrate too often, i.e., not moving plants around, planting and re-planting.

[Bettarazzi]

Where do you get powdered clay? Just at the nursery?

[JUNGLE]

Wellll.....first I get some red clay from the local art supply shop.

Then I slice it into 1cm slabs and allow them to dry .

Then I use a kitchen grater to powder it.

You could get a lump of dry clay and smash it with a hammer

then sift it.

This allows me to mix it evenly with,say peat,or soil.

It also makes a great mix which, when moistened becomes elastic.

I then make it into balls for Wabi-Kusa.

Didn't mean to change the direction of this thread.

Just illustrating the benefits of powdering the clay.

You can also mix Osmocote or Blood-n-Bone with this and make it into little balls.

When dry,they make great little fertiliser pellets to poke into the substrate..

[davo]

Hey Guys

Listen to JUNGLE. If you have seen his place and hear him speak... you guys are in for a huge paradigm shift

But seriously his advise is well thought out and you won't be disappointed!

[Chuckie]

I then make it into balls for Wabi-Kusa.

I have been meaning to start a thread about Wabi-Kusa ever since I visited faewyn. I am going to do that now .

[holycow]

sound like 'poo' balls.

[redfin538]

Hi, found this thread and it rose question in my mind.

could a person use those jiffy pot things that they sell for starting veg/flower seeds in the fish tank?

[Chuckie]

I understand that they have fertiliser in them. So I would say no.

Also, being peat, they will stain the water with tannins and acidify it. Not a look I dislike, just thought I should mention it.

[redfin538]

thanks didnt know about the fertilizer though i expect the only one that would be upset with a little acidity in the water would be the apple/mystery snail i bought last night lol :(