Potting soil as base fert?

[New_garden]

is it possible to use normal soil for base fert?
trying to save some costs
what are some of the other cheap ferts that can be used? i read some guys are using "cocopeat", any pics to show?

[Ram]

Normal garden soil and cheaper garden plants fertilisers are possible to use in aquatic tanks. I had tried that before, the aquatic plants survise well. In fact most aquantic plants we bought in LFS normally are harvested using normal fertilisers, even chicken poo. CO2 system, chiller, branded fertilisers are expensive stuff to these farmers.
However, the crucial question for aquatic hobblists is: what is the ideal standard we want to achieve in our set up and design?
Common problems from garden soil are algae outburst, hazy water, and sometime toxicated fishes; unless you can maintain a well balance system.

[Goondoo]

Normal garden soil and cheaper garden plants fertilisers are possible to use in aquatic tanks. I had tried that before, the aquatic plants survise well. In fact most aquantic plants we bought in LFS normally are harvested using normal fertilisers, even chicken poo. CO2 system, chiller, branded fertilisers are expensive stuff to these farmers.
However, the crucial question for aquatic hobblists is: what is the ideal standard we want to achieve in our set up and design?
Common problems from garden soil are algae outburst, hazy water, and sometime toxicated fishes; unless you can maintain a well balance system.

Well said.
I also believe that you should extend your cycling time span and methods should you decide to take the risk.
Example: Some garden soil are high in Ammonia, by adding water to the soil level for a few weeks might allow the ammonia to kick start the cycling without algae outburst etc. You can also try growing some plants emmerse for a period of time before filling up the tank... End of the day, we do not really know the contents of such soils. Ammonia could be remove through longer cycle, Nitrates through frequent water changes... etc. However, please be becareful that these soil might contain contaminants like copper etc... these are harmless to emmersed plants, but fatal to fauna like shrimps etc...

End of the day, why harm your pet right?

[stephen chung]

I think better not..I had use vocanic peat as a base fert as it fail miserably.. The phosphate is just way too high and I am unable to bring it down at all. My tank was infected with algae...And I think those potting soil might have urea inside...becareful..

[uklau]

I think most potting soil are not suitable. However, they are suitable if you plan to grow plant in emersed way.

[wynx]

is it possible to use normal soil for base fert?
trying to save some costs
what are some of the other cheap ferts that can be used? i read some guys are using "cocopeat", any pics to show?

Save Cost? I think you better not! cause you will spend a lot of time fighting algae and the unknown..Time is money and you will end up spending more!

[New_garden]

haha.. i'm glad i asked before i did the wrong thing
thanks guys!

[David Moses Heng]

I beg to differ. I have posted a thread on this and till today, my 2 feet which is using garden soil is doing well with no filitration. My faunas also didn't suffer. Infact, my 2 feet is now home to 4 newt. During the period when i use it for planted, i also did not suffer any algae blooms or stuff. In fact, the pH was maintained at 6.5 and the live stocks are doing well inside till i transfer them to my 422. New_garden, you are most welcome to visit my 2 feet and see for yourself.

[Ram]

I agree that garden soil and fertilisers are possible to use in aquatic tank, the key to success is maintaining a well balance environment.
In fact I tried that two years ago. I had written some thread that share my experience;
http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=199723

http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=204798

[ranmasatome]

i think garden soil is possible.. but you need to know exactly what you are doing or need to be damn "heng" (lucky)... either way and it will work for you. You need to know whats in the soil you're using.. and also perhaps further knowledge into how this particular soil you're using will affect your water. Picking the right soil is essential... pick a wrong one and its all gone... pick the right one (whether it be knowledge or luck) and you'll probably do fine.
In the long run, many people decide not to take this risk and just go with something they know they can dump and forget... i'm not saying this is not possible with garden soil..but it just takes more effort on the part of the person building the tank should he choose to use it.
Perhaps if you're adamant about using it..ask david the exact brand and type he used... it obviously worked for him..so i assume that that kind of soil is less troublesome.

[cs_sg]

Here's a good link on AQ moderator, Koah Fong's (a.k.a "juggler") successful attempts using Cocopeat for his early planting days. Take note of his substrate combination. His website inspired me to start my first planted tank since it was cheaper and I did it with DIY Co2 for about 6months before getting a CO2 cylinder. . I started my first planted 3footer with cocopeat, root monsters and lapis as the top layer as the substrate. The thing with cocopeat is that, you have to be very careful when you uproot your deep rooted plants, it can get quite messy.

Have fun reading green-finger, Koah Fong's 'fish journal'.

By the way, I have never used any JPL Base fert, ADA, whatsoever. My 2nd and 3rd attempt to rescape my tanks, I used just lapis and root monster compliment with regular liquid fertilizers.

[Quixotic]

Remember, not all potting/garden soil are made equal.

Some have perlite, some have vermiculite, some have fertilisers and so on in their ingredients. Those that are urea-based are not recommended as they may cause problems leeching too much nutrients/ammonia into the water column.

So understanding the properties and ingredients of what you are using will help a great deal.

[rwalker]

I agree with Altum. I use potting soil in my low tech tank, my fishes and plants are doing well. Diana Walstard seems to suggest almost any potting soil will do.

I use Florabella potting soil, from NTUC, the one with yellow and white plastic bag. Koah Fong uses "cocopeat" from ColdStorage according to the info on his page. You can try either one of these to start with.

[cs_sg]

I agree with Altum. I use potting soil in my low tech tank, my fishes and plants are doing well. Diana Walstard seems to suggest almost any potting soil will do.

I use Florabella potting soil, from NTUC, the one with yellow and white plastic bag. Koah Fong uses "cocopeat" from ColdStorage according to the info on his page. You can try either one of these to start with.

NOT all potting mix can be used. I have to emphasis that.
I used the cocopeat from Cold Storage because Koah Fong used it but that doesn't mean that the same brand of cocopeat composite would be the same after all these years.

I would suggest not to take your chance if you are not sure what's in the soil mixture.

[Quixotic]

I agree with Altum. I use potting soil in my low tech tank, my fishes and plants are doing well. Diana Walstard seems to suggest almost any potting soil will do.

Have you read her book, "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium"? Turn to page 123, read what she has to say about it and you will see that she did suggest that it can be a risk.

Using soil in aquariums is a strong ideological barrier for many aquarium hobbyists. Here, I am specifying soils that ordinary gardeners grow plants in-- gardens soil or potting soil. (I'm not talking about subsoils, vermicullite, pottery clay, kitty litter or gravel additives.)

Anyone knows if garden/potting soil found here do not have any additional ingredients or gravel additives? As far as I know, there are some which do contain them.

Certainly, using an unknown soil in the aquarium entails risk. Even if the soil is okay, it still may not work. (Soil coupled with inappropriate lighting and/or unsuitable plants can be a disaster.)

As I have mentioned, if you do not know the properties of the soil, there will be a risk. If you are able to find out the properites and ingredients, then it certainly will help a great deal.

[rwalker]

The risks associated with using potting soil brought up by others before me are of course very real. And yes, I did read Diana Walstard’s book and started my low tech venture because of that.　

One can minimize those risks by using a tested products used by others, much like the high tech soil proponents recommend using certain brand, eg ADA soil (?), etc. Though some may argue the compound may not be 100% the same every time. But I would argue the risks could be over stated.

Ultimately one has to accept and know the risks involved in what ever method chosen, be it high tech, low tech, commercial soil, etc. I hope the discussion in this thread can give the reader a balanced and informed view of using potting soil as substrate.

[Quixotic]

Ah, but ADA soil is an aquarium soil, garden/potting soil is not.

There is no stopping anyone from experimenting them by the way. However, if anyone intends to have fishes in them, then I would say you have to follow up with the various water tests (ammonia/nitrite/nitrate and so on).

Again, regardless if you are a newbie or experienced aquarist, knowing the properties and ingredients would help. Knowing this would help understand how to minimise the risk. This cannot be emphasised enough.

[David Moses Heng]

Ah, but ADA soil is an aquarium soil, garden/potting soil is not.

err... i again beg to differ. According to my freinds from japan, ADA soil is actually soil that was harvested from the paddy fields of japan. ADA then processed it to make it suitable for aquarium usage.

[rwalker]

For those who are interested in using low tech method (El-natural), no CO2 injection, soil as substrate, you can visit the following link for more info:
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/el-natural/

Diana's book titled "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium", as mentioned by Quixotic, is a must read for low tech tank folks. It covers things like nitrate cycle, etc on applying el-natural method. Web link above also has info on how to speed up the nitrate cycle in soil.

Tom Barr's Non-CO2 method basically enhance what Diana advocates.

As pointed out by Tom Barr, it doesn't matter which method you use (low tech, high tech, etc), one has to learn, learn it well and apply.

As for Ram and Altum, I am glad I am not the only one using soil in Singapore

[David Moses Heng]

.

As for Ram and Altum, I am glad I am not the only one using soil in Singapore

cheers dude