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Freshwater Substrates - Gravel, Sand for discussing freshwater aquarium substrates such as gravel, sand, etc.

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Old January 25th, 2009  
Fish Mentor
 
Is organic soil aqurium safe in FW?

In my Country, it is not difficult, nor expensive to find and purchase "black soil", a dark black, organic compounds rich type of soil that is used in gardening. Some garden enthusiast use this soil without adding fertilizers. It comes mostly from rural areas rich in that type of substrate.

I have read about uses of natural soil in aquarium but mostly in quite different approaches (e.g. "el natural") where fish stocking is kept at a minimum, than the one I use (DIY tech-based upgrading) where I push the limits in bio-load.

In Spanish the term used for this soil is "Tierra Negra" (black soil), I post this hoping someone can provide me feedback as if it would be too risky to use this substrate in potted plants or if this can be done. I wish I had Eco-Complete at hand but I don't, and I have "extended" the usage of my four bags by mixing mine (in some tanks) with natural river sand at different proportions (depending on the plants I intend to keep).

Pepe
Santo Domingo
pepetj is offline  
Old January 25th, 2009  
Moderator
 
I personally would be afraid to use soil from out side as it might contain bacteria, parasites, or even pesticides that might hurt your fish. Just some thoughts.
Carol
Butterfly is offline  
Old January 25th, 2009  
Fish Mentor
 
Me too. Even organic always got something. Parasites oh heck no1. not me.
navyscuba is offline  
Old January 25th, 2009  
Fish Mentor
 
OK so that means I will take some more Eco-Complete from the 45gal tank and mix it with natural river sand to pot my new plants. The LFS shipment with Eco-Complete is expected by March 2009, not sooner. I shall replace the "borrowed" substrate then.

Natural soil seems too risky, I won't do it.

Thanks

Pepe
Santo Domingo
pepetj is offline  
Old January 25th, 2009  
Fish Keeper
 
Although never used Black soil, used on few tank the products by Tetra & Dupla. Cant remeber the name since it was done some 20 yrs ago. It worked well with Plant but took long time to set up and long time for water to clear up even when used Vortex Diatom Filter. Besides when disturbed while planting, it would go hazy for while.

If want to try, try in small tank or jar to see what happen, just curious. I will bet that once filled w/ water, it will contain high nitrate and phospate. May even show ammonia upon setting up. Run experiment do see if this idea is feasible for Aquarium
If have backyard, try setting up in small container/tank. filled some black soil then small grave then coarse gravel to hold the soil down. Put little jar w/ wider plate under the jar in the container and have the water gently overflow from jar into to plate. This will help you not to disturb the bed too much. Worried about mosquito, could use mesh to coverthe top. Once you think water is safe, try some fish (killies, Endlers, which will do fine outside in your climate zone) to control mosquito.

As far as terrestrial microbes/parasites surviving submerged in water, I strongly doubt.

Can even use this container to raise some aquatic/bog plant after the experiment is done thus wont alter the water chemistry. You can even see flowering of these plant once they can have stalk/stem grow out of water.

Used to use peat moss/Tetra product in jars to spawn many Killies. If you can somehow cure() the Black soil why not? If do run experiment, post the results..

Only thing I will be worried about is if it contains PESTICIDE but if bag says Natural it may not!!!

BTW, what kind of land plant do you use this black soli/sand combo? I have used potting mix/sand combo for many succulents (cactus, etc) w/ good results. Just curious.
cerianthus is offline  
Old February 2nd, 2009  
Fish Mentor
 
I have a tank with 100% Eco-Complete. Plants there thrive (not "pearl"). In that tank I have two Black Amazon Swords, one Sword (locally obtained, no more info available), Hygrophila, Vallisneria (a dwarf variety), Anubias Afzelii, Anubias Barter.

In a 40-60 (natural river sand: Eco-Complete) tank, I have three Black Amazon Swords and Hygrophila. These are also doing great. In this tank Eco-Complete is placed as bottom layer, with sand on top.

These two tanks have DIY CO2 injection and DIY lighting upgrade that, at least in some areas of the tank, reach 3WPG.

In two other tanks I have a lighter mixture, say 20:80 (but could be 15:85 in one of them). Since I have no CO2, I rather pot the plants and place them right behind the lamp assemblies. Here I am keeping (recent trial) Hygrophila, Vallisneria (dwarf variety), Aponogeton (yet to identify which one exactly), Anbuias Barteri and a White Water Lilly.

In yet another tank, I keep potted plants with surface-floating plants. I place the potted plants in the uncovered areas so they get their needed light. Here I keep Hygrophila, Vallisnera americana, Hornwort and Anacharis. I tried Parrot Feather but the fish fed on it so I removed it.

Pepe
Santo Domingo
pepetj is offline  
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