To dirt or not to dirt

Hey all,

Going to be setting up my 75 gallon planted tank in the next coming weeks. Ive been thinking lay out for months on this tank. Ive bought the plants as well as using existing plants from other set ups. Ive bought my new substrate (amazonia).This is not my first planted set up and wanted to try something different a figured Ive been hearing a lot about dirted tanks. Done my own research but wanna crowd source a bit..
So my quesions are.
Is dirting worth it? (results vs hastle)
Anyone have a golden ratio of dirt to tank size?
Preffered brand of soil or will any organinc dirt do?
Are the pre plant chemical root booster treatments worth it? (I have shrimp and worry about copper and use co2)

tank is standard 48x19x22

Thanks in advance for the input!

 

If you use Amazonia, you don't need to have a dirt tank as the Amazonia provides nutrients for the plants. I'd use dirt capped with plain sand or gravel if you're going that route.

I've never dirted a tank (seems like a hassle!), but many members have and love it!

 

I have disliked both dirt tanks I've tried. They grew plants well, but all the organic dirts seem to have a high mulch content. The mulch always finds its way to the surface and looks trashy. I'd rather just use a plant substrate designed for pretty aquariums.

 

I've heard of many people using dirt from their own back yard or a nearby park. Just baking it off and to kill anything potential in there, letting it cool, then picking out twigs or mulch what have you. Again, this is actually adding a few more steps and potential hassle to your setup but might give you a little more control over what all is being mixed in to your dirt. Just a thought.

 

its good when u not messing around with it.

that means u don't stir around the dirt and cap them well only.

not so good if u are not so prepared///

 

I've had 0 luck with planting in floramax substrate. I'm thinking about trying my luck with potting soil. Thoughts? Is it more difficult? Easier? Do you still need co2 with dirt?

 

Dirt works great. You only need CO2 if your lighting is pretty high. If your light is too little, you won't grow much of anything.

Dirt + good lights + ferts = growth.

Dirt + high lighting + C02 + ferts = explosive growth

 

Use an organic potting soil mix that contains no chemicals. You can also use your own dirt, just bake it in the oven at 200' F for 20 minutes on a baking sheet, then let it cool. Baking the dirt kills any microbes or fungus that would contaminate your tank.

Dirt is the best substrate for planted tanks as it already contains a lot of the nutrients plants require. It is just messy if not done correctly!

 

Yes, if not correctly capped it can make a mess. Also, when you try to move a plant you WILL pull Soil up with it no matter hose careful you are. So be sure of where you want you plants and try not to rearrange it much.

 

I dirted one of my tanks and to be honest, I'm not impressed and kind of regret it now.

 

Only took dirt to get Ludwigia Repens red.
Dirt is the wholygrail of nutrients. Dirt it. Not hard at all, just be sure to plant heavily from the beginning.

 

You shouldn't use dirt its not the best.

 

We use Caribsea Eco-complete as our substrate and dose the tank with Seachems Flourish and our plants look really good. Some of them have to be thinned out regularly.

 

You shouldn't use dirt its not the best.

Care to formulate?

 

I use caribsea floramax....the black substrate and I love how it looks. I just can't grow anything. I dose flourish and excel every couple of days. I have a fluval led light bar. Not sure which one but it was a cheap $40 light. It's definitely low light. I'm just scared of dirt. I want to try it but I don't know. And it's only good for about a year right?

 

ADA Aquasoil, Controsoil, Mr. Aqua Aquarium soil, and Tropica soil.

 

Yes, if not correctly capped it can make a mess. Also, when you try to move a plant you WILL pull Soil up with it no matter hose careful you are. So be sure of where you want you plants and try not to rearrange it much.

X1000- I set up a small plant nursery tank and growth was clearly excellent in a few weeks. No ferts, no CO2. If I did it again it would be very thin layer of dirt and thick cap. An eco-tank with a jungle look and forget it. If you don't know exactly where you want your plants on day one it is way too messy for me.

 

Your super expensive commercial substrate will also run out of nutrients and that first year while the dirt has nutrients will be the best year ever for the plants.
This hobby is supposed to be fun, I am not telling you to be reckless but if you want to try a dirted tank out just try it, enjoy your fishtanks, have fun and if something goes wrong (which it shouldnt, it is easy and there are tons of tutorials on youtube) the world will not end.

 

When EI dosing this is not much of an issue. In addition, one can use Osmocote plus root tabs.

 

You shouldn't use dirt its not the best.

Plants would beg to differ

 

Try, sand.

 

Sand has no nutrients and plants have roots for a reason as far as I know, to absorb nutrients. You can probably get away with liquid ferts but nothing beats a rich substrate, most plants absorb nutrients far better from the substrate than from the water column.

 

Thanks guys. I'll give it a shot!!!

 

Sand has no nutrients and plants have roots for a reason as far as I know, to absorb nutrients. You can probably get away with liquid ferts but nothing beats a rich substrate, most plants absorb nutrients far better from the substrate than from the water column.

Okay, here goes...
I have both. One tank (265g) with nothing but sand as a substrate and the plants are beautiful! I use Aquarium Co-op's Easy Green fertilizer and special aquarium root tabs. I did have dirt in this tank but I have a common pleco and he dug everything up. I had to take the dirt out and use just sand as the dirt was making him sick (he's 16" long).
Properly managed a planted tank with just sand can be done but you do have to keep on top of it.
I set up another (10g) that is dirted with a sand cap. I call it my 10 gallon Nursery tank. I use it for just that. To start lotus bulbs, get a plant healthy after it's been shipped long distances to me, etc. this tank has turned into a jungle and is the most healthy tank I've ever had. I even have a thriving colony of Red Cherry Shrimp in there.
In that tank I only remove a plant during a water change so I can suck out the dirt that comes up with the plant. I don't move plants very much but when I do it is messy.
All that said the dirted tank is by far much better for the plants. The growth is phenomenal. I even got some plants in from Malaysia that spent three weeks in an envelope (a Crypt variety). They were white, and pretty dry. I didn't have much hope. I put them all in the nursery tank immediately and every single one of them made it and are thriving.
What dirt did I use? Dirt from my backyard. I live in an area which has a good amount of red clay and minerals. I dug it up from my garden area (I garden organically) and mineralized it for six weeks.
I've had no algae issues (& it's by a window that gets direct morning sun), and shrimp, baby fish, and plants are all healthy.

 

I did the plant nursery dirt tank as well. Just add light. No ferts or attention needed. It takes a lot of effort and expense to come even close to matching it with a sand or gravel substrate.

 

I have always thought about doing dirt but I just never have.

 

I have always thought about doing dirt but I just never have.

Try a small tank one the first time. I makes a big mess if you jack with your plants after the initial placement. Same thing if you have big fish that disturb the substrate. For a small plant nursery you can't beat it. Five bucks worth of dirt and and sand. You can be clueless about growing plants and clippings will grow stupid fast with a little light.

 

Okay, here goes...
I have both. One tank (265g) with nothing but sand as a substrate and the plants are beautiful! I use Aquarium Co-op's Easy Green fertilizer and special aquarium root tabs. I did have dirt in this tank but I have a common pleco and he dug everything up. I had to take the dirt out and use just sand as the dirt was making him sick (he's 16" long).
Properly managed a planted tank with just sand can be done but you do have to keep on top of it.
I set up another (10g) that is dirted with a sand cap. I call it my 10 gallon Nursery tank. I use it for just that. To start lotus bulbs, get a plant healthy after it's been shipped long distances to me, etc. this tank has turned into a jungle and is the most healthy tank I've ever had. I even have a thriving colony of Red Cherry Shrimp in there.
In that tank I only remove a plant during a water change so I can suck out the dirt that comes up with the plant. I don't move plants very much but when I do it is messy.
All that said the dirted tank is by far much better for the plants. The growth is phenomenal. I even got some plants in from Malaysia that spent three weeks in an envelope (a Crypt variety). They were white, and pretty dry. I didn't have much hope. I put them all in the nursery tank immediately and every single one of them made it and are thriving.
What dirt did I use? Dirt from my backyard. I live in an area which has a good amount of red clay and minerals. I dug it up from my garden area (I garden organically) and mineralized it for six weeks.
I've had no algae issues (& it's by a window that gets direct morning sun), and shrimp, baby fish, and plants are all healthy.

What kind of lighting are you using?