base fert alternative

[gabriel06]

i believe i read some where that normal gardening soil can be used too..
any one can help?
or perhaps anyone has tried it before?
thanks

[theodore]

Garden soil may contain excessive amounts of soluble nutrients (e.g. urea). I ever considered using Florabelle potting mix (available at Cold Storage) but ended up picking the safer Horti Moss instead for my low-light setup.

At the end of the day, it depends on whether you are willing to take the risk - Base fert is not something you want to even think about changing once your tank is up and running.

[geoffrey]

Coco-peats and potting soil are used by some of us here. Go read this book, The Ecology of a Planted Aquarium - Diana Walstad.

[vinz]

Pond soils are another option. Far East sells J. Arthur Bowers Aquatic Compost, but it's frequently out-of-stock. Try other nurseries too and see what they use for pond plants.