Substrate Question
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If you mean "soil I dug up from a pond", then that's a positively, absolutely, bad idea, do not use that!
Soil from the environment can house nasty pathogens and parasites.
If, as I suspect, you mean something like Wal-mart's Aquatic Planting media soil, then the short, but incomplete answer is yes, but...
The first issue is why do you want to use that specifically and have you had a planted tank before? I wouldn't recommend it for your first planted tank. There are "dirted" tanks, but they have some significant issues if not done correctly. I have multiple planted tanks and all have plain old play sand except for one that has ecocomplete. I could mess around with the dirt, but the way I re-scape on occasion and my fish dig around, it would be way too messy.
If you still want to use the aquatic planting soil, please take some time to read up on using dirt as a substrate. It really is not as simple as switching out the gravel for dirt!
Soil from the environment can house nasty pathogens and parasites.
If, as I suspect, you mean something like Wal-mart's Aquatic Planting media soil, then the short, but incomplete answer is yes, but...
The first issue is why do you want to use that specifically and have you had a planted tank before? I wouldn't recommend it for your first planted tank. There are "dirted" tanks, but they have some significant issues if not done correctly. I have multiple planted tanks and all have plain old play sand except for one that has ecocomplete. I could mess around with the dirt, but the way I re-scape on occasion and my fish dig around, it would be way too messy.
If you still want to use the aquatic planting soil, please take some time to read up on using dirt as a substrate. It really is not as simple as switching out the gravel for dirt!
I mean the bags of aquatic pond soil its like gravel but people use it in ponds for pond plants. I have a bunch here and would love to set up a planted tank ,no I have not set up a planted tank before ,so any information would be great help thank you .
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hello Andrew,welcome :-D
planted tanks need not be a scary thing,and can be as easy or testing
as you wish....as for me...i'm not great...but it's work in progress lol
the lighting on your tank will come into play,depending on what type
of plants you wish to keep,some only need low light,some more,
in the planted section on this site,there is a wonderful amount of
information,and i'm sure the answers that i can not give,will be there,
i have sand and gravel in my tank,and the plants are doing fine.
did you wish to use the pond soil for the whole tank,or sections ? or
potting around the plants.?
planted tanks need not be a scary thing,and can be as easy or testing
as you wish....as for me...i'm not great...but it's work in progress lol
the lighting on your tank will come into play,depending on what type
of plants you wish to keep,some only need low light,some more,
in the planted section on this site,there is a wonderful amount of
information,and i'm sure the answers that i can not give,will be there,
i have sand and gravel in my tank,and the plants are doing fine.
did you wish to use the pond soil for the whole tank,or sections ? or
potting around the plants.?
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1,362 Posts
I'd recommend starting simple for your first planted tank. Pick a fine gravel, not large, and go with that. I'd stay away from the pond substrate because it may not be as clean and may have added fertilizers (I just don't know).
Read, read, read, but don't worry. It's not hard. The single, best piece of advice that I can relay is don't use too much light or too long a duration/day, it takes less than you think! As mentioned, lots of good reference material already posted here. Start with easy plants like swords. Lots of easy to grow plants out there.
Read, read, read, but don't worry. It's not hard. The single, best piece of advice that I can relay is don't use too much light or too long a duration/day, it takes less than you think! As mentioned, lots of good reference material already posted here. Start with easy plants like swords. Lots of easy to grow plants out there.
Yeppers.
I use 1" peat moss, 1" play sand, 1" pro choice pc select.
but that's just me and my .02
+1
IMHO the live plants make keeping the tank really easy. they simply trump everything else.
But that's just my .02
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4,253 Posts
Without knowing what's in the pond soil for sure I would stay away from it as DKRST has said. Soil can leech many things into the aquarium water that can be harmful. Not to say soil tanks can't be done. I have done a few but they are much more involved and require more patiences. Starting out for the first time this can be overwhelming. Fine gravel or playsand for the first tank works great.
thanks for all the information every one the ponds soil has no added fertilizes or chemicals .
I use it to incubate reptile eggs .Its like a gravel and I have a ton of it thats why I was asking about it but I will read and read and read but you guys are help full please keep giving me helpful Ideas .
I use it to incubate reptile eggs .Its like a gravel and I have a ton of it thats why I was asking about it but I will read and read and read but you guys are help full please keep giving me helpful Ideas .
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