20 Gallon Tank Started my dirt tank today

Hey everyone thought I'd share that I start my dirt tank today. I used miracle grow organize garden soil. I got what sticks and such I could out of it, broke it up nice and put it on the bottom. Put the gravel that I already had in the tank on top. Also changed the layout, which I like. I see some bubbles coming up so that's good. I only filled the tank to be above the plants, no sense of filling it up all the way If I need to do water changes soon right. I also used tap water with prime instead of RO water like i've been using. So I'll have to see how it goes!
Thanks for caring :]

 

Looks very nice!

 

Good start.

 

Thanks :] I figured I can't learn without just trying it. I wanted more more plants but if those two swords on the right grow good then I may not have the room.

On a side note my fish are in a 5 gallon bucket with a plant and with a heater, they should be ok for a week or so in there yea? I didn't put a filter just tank water. I figured I'd check it in a few days and if there's ammonia I'll do a water change in the bucket.

 

Where did you put your filter?

 

I have 2 canister filters their just sitting with whatever water was in them. bad idea? I have a aqua clear I could put on the bucket, that was my plan if they needed to be in there for a longer period.

 

I just didn't want your beneficial bacteria dying...

I think you should just put the fish back in the tank and run your filters, just monitor the water parameters of the tank and do daily WCs. That is what I did.

 

I'd just worry about the pleco and the betta dying off. did you have any deaths on yours? If I lost tetras I'd be fine I can get more. But the pleco and betta are unique.

I don't think I can do that today I have work in half hour and I'm eating haha. But I can do that tomorrow. Hopefully it will be okay.

 

I had one die off and it was a Red Eye Tetra that I had for 3 years. It could of died from shock, old age, etc....

I'm just worried that your BB will die and that you would have to restart your cycle all over again.

 

That would not be good. ok I'll plug them back in either tonight when I get home if I feel up to it or tomorrow as soon as I get off.


So what did you do for substrate before dirt for your planted tanks? I just had gravel and root tabs, which I didnt keep up on. The dirt benefits yeah?