Capping Substrate for Larger Aquarium

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:03 pm

Awesome, my plan may work.

Hey Joe, if I get my 75 we can have a contest to see who can get the most algae err plants to grow!

not trying to hijack your thread Joe, lemme know if ya want me to transplant to my own thread.

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:09 pm

Ok due to my livin in a high rise in Alexandria, I dont really have a backyard I can go raid.

In looking at home depots website and remembering (probably incorrectly) mentions of what soil to use.

would I want to start with:

Cactus Potting Mix: Cactus potting mix works well for cactus and succulents because it contains a special blend of organic materials, sand and perlite to promote drainage. These mixes also contain bone meal for phosphorus to promote blooming and root development.

or

Seed-Starting Mix: A seed-starting mix is specially formulated for seed germination and growth. This mix also works well for leaf, stem and root cuttings. Containing sphagnum peat moss and higher levels of vermiculite than other mixes, seed-starting mix provides the proper medium for growing seeds and cuttings quickly.

or just plain no frills potting soil that has minimal perlite and no fertilizers?

ingg · Post by **ingg** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:11 pm

SMS doesn't keep doing that forever, it is only a few months before water parameters will return to baseline.

How is doing this without co2 different than doing a walstad setup?

I know there is some conditioning in the mineralized soil, does it change how it works?

I also avoided Green water with a UV. I will probablyg remove it in a month.

halak · Post by **halak** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:13 pm

Joe,

I used 3M T grade for my 125, and regular aquarium gravel (brown pebbles from probably a chain store) in my 20 high. I am happy with the 3M, and I feel okay with the latter one (I couldn't scape the brown pebbles much if I wanted to).

Post by **krisw** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:13 pm

Jeff, you don't want either of those. You want the cheapest bag of topsoil you can buy. Cheap because it likely won't have any fertilizers or other additives in it. (Make sure you check though)

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:15 pm

krisw wrote:Jeff, you don't want either of those. You want the cheapest bag of topsoil you can buy. Cheap because it likely won't have any fertilizers or other additives in it. (Make sure you check though)

thought so.

Anyone know of any bargain basement Big lots versions of garden centers for soil?

Post by **krisw** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:18 pm

Anyone know of any bargain basement Big lots versions of garden centers for soil?

Just go to Home Depot. 40lb bag of topsoil will cost you $1-$2.

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:26 pm

Actually usually less than a dollar but with inflation and since its Jeff....I think they will make him a deal of $2 a bag.

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:35 pm

Ltrepeter2000 wrote:Actually usually less than a dollar but with inflation and since its Jeff....I think they will make him a deal of $2 a bag.

No if they see me coming they will only have the pure fertilizer for sale.

Ltrepeter2000 · Post by **Ltrepeter2000** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:39 pm

Actually I was thinking more along the lines of Muriatic Acid

Capping Substrate for Larger Aquarium

Sponsors