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Thread: Soil?

  1. #1
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    Lightbulb Soil?

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    Hi all. Am new to the planted world. I was just wondering if instead of using the regular aquarium soil like GEX or ADA Aquasoil, I could simply go ahead and use the regular potting soil used for terrestrial plants.

    My build plan goes like this...

    1) Obtain and mature rocks and wood with Various Mosses and Pelia (Check)

    2) Store these aside. (Check)

    3) Fill tank bottom-most layer with peat

    4) Fill next layer with ADA Powersand

    5) Fill following layer with soil
    - ADA/GEX Aquasoil?
    - Terrestrial planting soil?

    6) Add a decorative substrate layer
    - White river sand mix with some lapis sand and black quartz.

    7) Fill tank and replace plants.

    Cycle tank with a HOF.

    9) Replace livestock.

    The Tank is a 1ft x 1ft cube tank.

    So...what do you guys think? Is this "mission" feasible?
    ...people ask why I eat fish even though i'm such an avid fish keeper... Bottom line is that I've been eating fish a lot longer than I've been keeping them...

  2. #2
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    Re: Soil?

    See my reply in red.

    Quote Originally Posted by reddragon343 View Post
    Hi all. Am new to the planted world. I was just wondering if instead of using the regular aquarium soil like GEX or ADA Aquasoil, I could simply go ahead and use the regular potting soil used for terrestrial plants.

    My build plan goes like this...

    1) Obtain and mature rocks and wood with Various Mosses and Pelia (Check)

    Ok

    2) Store these aside. (Check)

    Ok

    3) Fill tank bottom-most layer with peat

    WHy is there a need to add peat at the bottom when you already add ADA powersand. I would suggest you add in the 5 element powder of ADA since you are using ADA powersand and aquasoil.

    4) Fill next layer with ADA Powersand

    5) Fill following layer with soil
    - ADA/GEX Aquasoil?
    - Terrestrial planting soil?

    I would suggest you use ADA Aquasoil if you are already intending to use ADA powersand. I won't advise a mixture but it is ok. End of the day, if you can afford why not use all ADA.

    6) Add a decorative substrate layer
    - White river sand mix with some lapis sand and black quartz.

    You adding on top of the ADA soil?

    7) Fill tank and replace plants.

    Ok

    Cycle tank with a HOF.

    Ok

    9) Replace livestock.

    Ok

    The Tank is a 1ft x 1ft cube tank.

    So...what do you guys think? Is this "mission" feasible?
    Nicholas

    Newbie en el cichlid enano

  3. #3
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    Re: Soil?

    wow...sound like a mesh..

    Normally people will try to do it as simple as possible, you do the opposite. If you use Aquasoil, forget about peat, potting soil, quartz, lapis sand and river sand.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

  4. #4
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    Re: Soil?

    Potting soil and quartz are much heavier as compared to Aquasoil. Overtime you are looking at soil "compacting" effect. I am currently going into re-scaping, if you have read my thread, I won't feel so struggling at the start if I have not the right soil. I be getting my Aquasoil later at 12pm. =) Cheers!

  5. #5
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    Re: Soil?

    hmm...ok. Thanks guys. I thought mine was quite trouble free...haha!
    ...people ask why I eat fish even though i'm such an avid fish keeper... Bottom line is that I've been eating fish a lot longer than I've been keeping them...

  6. #6
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    Re: Soil?

    Concur with keeping it simple. Stick to one line of products as most of them are designed to compliment each other.

    For me, I go with cheap and good gravel (or AKA lapis sand) and potting soil for pond plants.

    If you decide on potting soil route, make sure you get something that is pesticide/fungicide/whatever-cide free. Also make sure it is low in nitrate and phosphate. The safe bet is to get potting soil meant for pond plants. These are usually formulated to be safe for fish and less algae friendly. One such soil is J Arthur Bower's Aquatic Compost (it's a soil, though it's named compost). Can be found at Far East or Hollywood at Thomson Road.
    Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
    Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:
    A woman, without her man, is nothing.
    A woman: without her, man is nothing.

  7. #7
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    Re: Soil?

    hmm...ok. thank you!
    ...people ask why I eat fish even though i'm such an avid fish keeper... Bottom line is that I've been eating fish a lot longer than I've been keeping them...

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