using homemade soil for substrate

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huapala

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Jul 25, 2013
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Huapala
i recently saw a person's blog that detailed them using potting soil as a substrate for their planted aquarium. It has been my plan to set up a Pangio kuhli community in a 20g long planted. So yesterday evening i went out and purchased a tank.

then i decided to line the bottom with coconut husk that i been previousley soaked and cleaned.
then i linned the entire bottom with my soil/compost that comes from my composter/worm farm
then i placed epoxy coated gravel on top
then after all the gravel was set i placed my bog wood in
and then began to place my plants

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huapala

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then i poured tbe water very slow one gallon of treated tap at a time, using the bog wood as a diffuser to avoid stirring up sediment.
when all was said and done i had place around 16gallons of treated tap water to the tank and used a spare metal halide lamp with cool tube for the lighting. i am going to make a cfl rack for it tonite (less eletricity)
i was suprised at how clear the water stayed with all the dirt at the bottom

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lozt

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What is the coconut husk used for? Where would I be able to find them?
 

huapala

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i used the coconut husk to allow the roots to cling on to something absorbant hopefully promoting more vigarous root growth. this is the first time i have tried this. i just used some spare coconut i had laying around as i use it to make rope and other cordage

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lozt

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I always thought about using soil, but never got around to it yet.

I guess with coconut husk you will have to be very sure how you want to scape your tank.. . once planted, there no turning back -- haha
So the substrate on top is just to keep the soil from floating everywhere, correct?
 

jpappy789

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I always thought about using soil, but never got around to it yet.

I guess with coconut husk you will have to be very sure how you want to scape your tank.. . once planted, there no turning back -- haha
So the substrate on top is just to keep the soil from floating everywhere, correct?
Yes, most soil is very light and requires a "cap" substrate.

Interested to see how it works. I've only done the Miracle Gro Organic potting soil.
 

huapala

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here is an update of my home made soil substrate:
I just finished my gravity filter /growbed and planted my mangrove seeda inside. i am planning to train the mangrove so that it grows into the aquarium...not sure if it will work but i am going to try,
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huapala

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Huapala
Yesterday I put the final touch ups on my 20 gallon long. First I did another 50 % water change but before refilling the tank I decide to add a tertiary substrate of sinkable cinders and coral sand (after a long period of sifting).
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I also found a pretty sweet rock that I put in the center and adorned with xmas moss. I also added some fish to eat the algae and begin the nitrification process in preparation for some Pangio kuhli.
Flora:
Lobelia cardinalis "dwarf"
Ludwigia Peruensis (Ludwigia glandulosa)
Ludwigia repens
Lilae novae-zelandiae

Anubias barteri
Christmas moss (Vesicularia montangnei)
Glossotigma elatinoides


Fauna:
Oto (Otocinclus sp.)
2Mexican molly (mostlikely hybrid)


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