Using soil as gravel

[vinz]

Joe,

That's probably ADA Aqua Soil. Aqua Soil is a product name. It's quite different from the potting soils we're talking about here. I think Ron meant potting soil for pond plants when he said "aquatic soil".

[joe]

Vincent,

Cannot be mistaken la. Hehee cos I'm using the ADA aqua soil in my office tank The aquatic soil/volcanic soil are placed below the Atman PL lights that NA sells.

[vinz]

I tracked back on the thread to see what Ronnie was referring to as "aquatic soil", but I'm not too sure. If he was referring to the pond soil I mentioned, then it's probably not the same as the stuff sold by NA.

The pond soil I'm using is looks like normal potting soil you would find in flower pots. Specifically I'm using J Arthur Bower's Aquatic Compost. I get this at the Far East Nursery along Thomson Road, but they frequently run out of stock, especially for the much more economical 20+ litres pack.

I have not found any other potting soil that specifically claims to be for ponds.

[RonWill]

Thanks Joe for the info. I'll swing by NA one of these days and consider it, if I can understand the stuff.

BTW, anyone here who's proficient with the Japanese language?

[joe]

I know MrTree can read Japanese ... but seldom see him here nowadays

Really keen to get everything and start the tank liao

[joe]

Went NTUC to look for cocopeat but did not manage to find it. However spotted some Horti soil. Anyone used this Horti soil in planted tank before???

[RonWill]

[quote:d0b4b36918="vinz"]Specifically I'm using J Arthur Bower's Aquatic Compost.[/quote:d0b4b36918]
Thanks Vincent for bringing up the product name... I've forgotten where the last reference was! :P

It is pond soil that I wish to experiment with.

BTW, would you happen to have pics of the setup using pond soil?

Joe, are you looking for Horti Peat Moss or Horti Soil?? If it's peat moss, most nurseries stock them.

Keep 'em fingers wet,
Ronnie Lee

[juggler]

[quote:09d8228d08="joe"]Went NTUC to look for cocopeat but did not manage to find it. However spotted some Horti soil. Anyone used this Horti soil in planted tank before???[/quote:09d8228d08]

I got my cocopeat (sold under a name called "Volcanic Soil") at Cold Storage.

I am not sure if Geoffrey used Horti soil before. He mentioned that he encountered high PO4 with one of the soils he used.

[vinz]

[quote:a3d4b58f87="RonWill"]...

BTW, would you happen to have pics of the setup using pond soil?

...

Keep 'em fingers wet,
Ronnie Lee[/quote:a3d4b58f87]

My arowana planted tank.

[gregorsamsa]

I bought the volcanic ash/cocopeat that juggler said, yesterday at cold storage.

i have layed down the cocopeat as well as a layer of grabel to weigh it down, but currently it is still murky and cloudy. the suspension seems to be from Ash.

Juggler sir, did you pre -wash it? Did it cloud? and also how's the success of those who have used cocopeat so far?

My tanks is 22 Litres trying to use ambient light as i get the westerly afternoon sun. Furthermore i live 19th storeys so i am unobstructed. heh.

cheers

[juggler]

Cocopeat is a type of potting pix. So cannot be washed and need not. Cocopeat by itself won't be very fertile, so I mixed in other fertilisers like Root Monsters or JBL.

The cloudiness may have come from your gravel. The cocopeat won't cloud the water when I laid it. Escaped cocopeat can even be scooped up with a net.

The longest I used such a setup is about 2 years. And still look OK.

gregorsamsa: Your tank is small. I have a similar but low-tech 1ft cube which I set up a few months ago with peat moss with clay dug from downstairs topped up with normal gravel. I am happy with the way the Crypts are growing in it. No CO2 or filtration.

[gregorsamsa]

Juggler,

so far not so good. I think my root monster for my Tiger lotus is leaching so i face algae problem. I have another 1 ft which is also by the sun but is filled with stem plants and glosso as foreground is slightly much better. It is going to convert to emmerse very soon. Will be searching ways to enlarge the tanks i can put by my window, (12pm -5pm sun)