Garden soil in substrate?

dahcmed · 10-02-2006, 10:21 PM

Hi Guys! Need your advise.

I'm setting up a 15Gal tank. Am planning to grow plants in them, though I'm afraid the flourites, etc. substrate are too costly for me.

The guy from the petstore said that I can use some garden soil. Mix this up with some fine gravel and cap it up with gravel. I understand this will cloud up the water and will take some time to settle. Is garden soil ok?

**Damon** · 10-02-2006, 10:45 PM

Well I wouldn't use soild from your own garden for starters...............

You can use soil but be sure it doesn't have any herbicides or pesticides or fertilizers in it or your asking for trouble. Plain topsoil will work but its light and will cloud you tank for some time. Diana Walstad is an expert in this area. Googling her shoudl yeild great results.
Here's a start.........
http://www.aquabotanic.com/plants_an...filtration.htm

emc7 · 10-02-2006, 11:13 PM

I'm no plant expert and i've never tried dirt, but its a common practices to put peat pellets in little clay pots and top it off with gravel and plants. Somehow I always manage to topple them and spill the gravel and peat, but it does seem good for the plants.

Puffer Pita · 10-03-2006, 07:33 AM

I have plants growing quite well just in plain sand, including an Amazon sword that's enormous.

harif87 · 10-03-2006, 11:50 AM

Make sure the soil doesnt have any ferts since product like MiracleGro and of the like tend to have high ammonia content in Urea form (which is pretty harmful) along with alot of phosphates. I would stick with eco complete, flourite, or perhaps plain sand like boxermom said.

10-02-2006, 10:21 PM	#1
dahcmed Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 33 Posts: 7	Garden soil in substrate? Hi Guys! Need your advise. I'm setting up a 15Gal tank. Am planning to grow plants in them, though I'm afraid the flourites, etc. substrate are too costly for me. The guy from the petstore said that I can use some garden soil. Mix this up with some fine gravel and cap it up with gravel. I understand this will cloud up the water and will take some time to settle. Is garden soil ok?

10-02-2006, 10:45 PM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Well I wouldn't use soild from your own garden for starters............... You can use soil but be sure it doesn't have any herbicides or pesticides or fertilizers in it or your asking for trouble. Plain topsoil will work but its light and will cloud you tank for some time. Diana Walstad is an expert in this area. Googling her shoudl yeild great results. Here's a start......... http://www.aquabotanic.com/plants_an...filtration.htm __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

10-03-2006, 07:33 AM	#4
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	I have plants growing quite well just in plain sand, including an Amazon sword that's enormous. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

10-03-2006, 11:50 AM	#5
harif87 Minor Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 990	Make sure the soil doesnt have any ferts since product like MiracleGro and of the like tend to have high ammonia content in Urea form (which is pretty harmful) along with alot of phosphates. I would stick with eco complete, flourite, or perhaps plain sand like boxermom said. __________________ sorry for beating you senseless "The human torch was denied a bank loan"

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10-02-2006, 11:13 PM	#3
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,899	I'm no plant expert and i've never tried dirt, but its a common practices to put peat pellets in little clay pots and top it off with gravel and plants. Somehow I always manage to topple them and spill the gravel and peat, but it does seem good for the plants.

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