mineralizing soil question

[ddavila06]

hi guys, quick question, did i buy the wrong topsoil??? it was the cheapest they had but has some peat moss in it, which is no problem, i wanted to make my set up with peat at the very bottom to make the water more acidic.... in case i got the wrong one, would shoveling a little dirt from the garden help?

[jcali10]

I found Earthgro Topsoil at Wal-Mart for $1.38 a bag. I like the texture of it; I'm soaking some of it right now. I tried some other stuff I bought at the Home Depot and Lowes called Garden Pro Topsoil, it was real twiggy and had a mulch like consistancy. I dumped that stuff out in the yard. Brands like Scotts or Miracle Gro are more expensive and usually contain added nutrients.

As far as using ground dirt, I think as long as you go deep enough you may be okay. But I really don't know. Jim posted earlier about using subsoil. He seems to know more about about.

[halak]

Check the ingredients to see if there is anything added.

[ddavila06]

nothing as far as chemicals; it has manure, a few different mosses (peat, some spaghnum, ) i no longer have the bag but can check when i stop by the home depot, thanks

[SCMurphy]

Damian,

You can use that soil, it is just going to take a little longer to mineralize. You do not add peat to a mineralized soil, you just went through all that trouble to get rid of the organics, you might as well put the soil into the tank without mineralizing it. You do not have to worry about the tank being acidic around here, especially with a soil substrate, even more so if you do CO2 injection.

[ddavila06]

Damian,

You can use that soil, it is just going to take a little longer to mineralize. You do not add peat to a mineralized soil, you just went through all that trouble to get rid of the organics, you might as well put the soil into the tank without mineralizing it. You do not have to worry about the tank being acidic around here, especially with a soil substrate, even more so if you do CO2 injection.

uhmmm, my water is very hard...about 7.6-8...also, there will be no co2 and little light, this will pretty much be a natural tank, i didn't add the peat, is listed in the ingredients of the soil thats why i was wondering if it waswrong. i guess i could put it into the tank without mineralizing, right

[SCMurphy]

How much of that hardness is Ca and Mg? How much is carbonate? Are you going to have wood in the tank?

[ddavila06]

How much of that hardness is Ca and Mg? How much is carbonate? Are you going to have wood in the tank?

don't know, don't know and yes! i know im using wood, i don't measure anything but ph and ammonia ocacionally... sorry

i don't want to make it too complicated, but read online (apc) that a guy used a topsoild that had no soil whatsoever and was all manure, and other things...just keep it simple guys

[Ltrepeter2000]

Damian

He made the comment about not wanting to add peat because this is what you said in your initial statement....

[quote="ddavila06"]which is no problem, i wanted to make my set up with peat at the very bottom to make the water more acidic.... quote]

Peat is one of the organics that this process is supposed to neautralize to help prevent algae growth. He was trying to point out that you do not want to add peat to the bottom of your setup with this substrate.

Thanks
Rob

[ddavila06]

ah ok! i got confused!!!