10 gallon

[red_wall]

I'm honestly not too sure which way to go with substrate for this tank.

Right now it has some cheap, small, coarse gravel in it. There's not nearly enough depth to plant anything. There are 2 potted plants, crypt and sword (staying potted, as I have no way of planting them yet).

So far, I plan on buying topsoil, mineralizing it, adding 15 watt CFL bulbs to the tank annnddddd... that's it really. I'm debating with myself whether it will need co2.

So my questions are -
Do you think there will be too many problems with adding mineralized soil?

I know it sounds very basic... but, will there be a lot of algae problems when using the mineralized soil?
The only examples I've seen it being used in are larger, higher tech tanks than what I have.
I'm probably going to end up planting it more and adding co2, but will the soil be good with just highish lights and plants? I can add co2 right away, I was just wondering if I even needed to bother with it.

Thanks

 

[sed03f]

I have soil in my tanks. The first one I did was really messed up and made the house stink for weeks until I redid it. Its doing great now, and I have 5 tanks with soil substrate now. First, use quality soil without copper nutrients. Mix the soil with sand in a 50/50 mix. Spread out about 1-2'' thick on bottom. Lay on bottom and squeeze the bubbles out. Then add gravel/pool filter sand on top about 2-3'' . I would not add any fertilizers yet. I have 2 tens fishless cycling for 1.5 months now and I dont add food, but there are hydra everywhere in the tank. I think its from the nutrient rich soil. I use pool filter sand because its cheaper and cleaner, but gravel works as well. My first tank I put, soil/sand, 1'' of gravel, and then 1'' of sand on top. I like to keep my tanks with 2wpg and no co2, but I have never tried it either. Good luck

 

[reefplayground]

2nd that. you should be ok if you use good soil.

 

[red_wall]

I have soil in my tanks. The first one I did was really messed up and made the house stink for weeks until I redid it. Its doing great now, and I have 5 tanks with soil substrate now. First, use quality soil without copper nutrients. Mix the soil with sand in a 50/50 mix. Spread out about 1-2'' thick on bottom. Lay on bottom and squeeze the bubbles out. Then add gravel/pool filter sand on top about 2-3'' . I would not add any fertilizers yet. I have 2 tens fishless cycling for 1.5 months now and I dont add food, but there are hydra everywhere in the tank. I think its from the nutrient rich soil. I use pool filter sand because its cheaper and cleaner, but gravel works as well. My first tank I put, soil/sand, 1'' of gravel, and then 1'' of sand on top. I like to keep my tanks with 2wpg and no co2, but I have never tried it either. Good luck

So you don't dose anything and have no co2?
The soil sustains the tank by itself? (that was one of the things I was looking for :])
And finally, if you dont mind, did you get any bad algae outbreaks when first starting your tank?

 

[sed03f]

Yes, I did get some algae outbreaks, but I didnt have a pleco in there either. It wasnt bad and went away in a week or two. I use pool filter sand and that stuff has a tendency to cloud up and cause blooms when first introduced to the tank, but if you wash it really well, then it does fine sometimes.

I have not used any co2, just soil and 2 wpg and once a month I dose 1/2 strength fertilizers since its a shrimp tank. My plants are doing really well, but co2 is cool if you can afford it.

Your plants will grow great root systems, but it sucks if you want to move plants around, the water gets a little cloudy. I tried all 100% soil under the sand once, and it was terrible, messy, stinky, and had bad air pockets (my tank had really bad stinky farts). The 50/50 mix is a lot easier. Especially when you move plants around, if any of the 50/50 mix is exposed, the release of soil into the tank is minimal and subsides guickly.