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The Fraternity of Dirt

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#1 · (Edited)
The Fraternity of Dirt
motto:
Just because its dirt doesn't make it low tech

Welcoming any dirty tankers to join.
To me NPT is the use of dirt (any dirt) as the primary media under a containing cap material.
That's the only requirement for membership.
CO2 or non, high tech / low tech doesn't matter. Got dirt? Got a journal about a tank with dirt? Good to go :proud:

People searching for dirty tanks here on TPT will have a guide to your thread simply finding this list.
Share your experience and help create a guide simply by keeping you're tank threads updated.
Got wet dirt? Simply adding you're name and picking a number is how to join.

NPT - natural planted tank
Broad term for soil based aquariums.

Many are trying to tie the use of this term to the works of Dianna Walstad author of Ecology of the Planted Aquarium.
The author herself doesn't claim this if any bother to actually read her book. (I did and keep it on the self reading it often)

Others have tied it to only low light or natural light, no CO2 systems with an emphasis on low-tech, natural aquariums and aquatic plants. (lack of techy stuff)

I like this web posted description that's from a site dedicated to the topic:

"The term "Natural Aquarium" can be used to describe different types of planted aquariums, including any planted aquarium. To me a natural aquarium is a low tech planted tank, generally set up to resemble natural types of settings. These tanks are usually a bit less formal than some of the other planted tank styles, and can often include invertebrates as well as fish and plants. I think of a natural aquarium as compared to other aquariums as a country garden is to a more formal one."
http://naturalaquariums.com/

To me NPT is the use of dirt as the primary media under a containing cap material.

Google it (NPT) and you spend the rest of the day reading the results. LOL

What I'm doing (or trying to) is loosely tie together or link to threads on this type of tanking.
Dirt substrates (my opinion)
Dig it up in your yard or spend $1000.00 on 'the good stuff' (lmao) Even AS doesn't always preform and act nicely in a tank. Dirt is dirt.

Seeing a member sig with the logo in it or reading this thread where people claim a number and link they're tank threads gives a list of those here on TPT and reviewing those threads the results of using 'x' and 'y' produced WOW, YUCK or OMG! results. This is what 'I' did in 'my' tank. Pictures timeline yada yada are there following the members posts.
MTS, AS, backyard dirt matters not! If it's dirt it can be linked.
Got dirt? Got it wet in a tank? Get a number and join! (if you choose)
Share what happens using what you put in a tank both good and bad.

I'm not about 'excluding' people. More about doing and learning so nothing elite about me LOL.

Everybody wanting to join should see something like this posted by the last member joining please pass along whats below in your post joining and see you in the threads:proud:

The Fraternity of Dirt
Just because its dirt doesn't make it low tech
Member List
Joining please (copy) this entire text without quoting it then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.
wkndracer - first member coining the phrase on TPT
nonconductive, Member #2 VP & Tye Dye Frisbee Hater, kamikazi #3, wespastor #4, demonr6 #5, DogFish #6, driftwoodhunter #7, Bahugo #8, firefiend #9, sewingalot #10, frrok #11 (add yourself here)


and post a link to your tank thread.
 
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#353 ·
The Fraternity of Dirt
Just because its dirt doesn't make it low tech
Member List
Joining please copy this entire text without quoting it then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.
wkndracer - first member coining the phrase on TPT
nonconductive, Member #2 VP & Tye Dye Frisbee Hater, kamikazi #3, wespastor #4, demonr6 #5, DogFish #6, driftwoodhunter #7, Bahugo #8, firefiend #9, batgirl #10, frrok #11, dbLbogie #12, The Dude #13, latnem #14, tonytrout2001@hotmail.com #15, mnellis3023 #16, Ichthyologuest #17, topfrog007 #18, Hilde #19, Nalu86 #20, Luecke1548 #21, seds #22, AesopRocks247 #23, iKine #24, DA PLANT MAN #25, JasonG75 #26, gil_ong #27, 5BodyBlade #28, RideTheSpiral #29, tuffgong #30, seandelevan #31, Moonshinetheslacker #32, Optix #33, SeaSlug182 #34, HD Blazingwolf #35, jhwku #36, dundee #37, madness #38 , cableguy69846 #39, Tharsis #40, Method #41, ShinyCard255 #42, BigTom #43, Diesel3443 #44, SlammedDC2 #45, irishchickadee #46, Daximus #47,1Aqumfish #48, jerilovesfrogs #49, Patriot100% #50, allaboutfish #51, storrisch #52, Talontsiawd#53, Tyger#54, iskandarreza #55,(IBmikmaq#56), LArifleMAN #57, Gtdad2 #58, BIG_Z #59 PaulG #60
 
#368 ·
i think that watching paint dry is more stimulating than whatching this soil dry.

Its rained here for over a week. Its cold and i am attempting to dry this in my basement. Its been 3 days and its still damp and clumps in my hand. I have set up 3 lamps on it today. 2 with flood lights and one with a reptiles heat emitter. And flipped and rotated the soil on the tarp.

In the meantime i have all the parts and equipment to set the tank up, but the MTS.:rolleyes:

The forcast calls for sun for the next 5 days or so. So tomorrow i am going to double the batch that is drying. And toss it in the yard.
 
#373 ·
Started a MGOPM 10 Gallon about 2 weeks ago using plants from another tank and its quickly jumping back into shape after a H2O2 dip to burn algae off all the plants first. Linky

The Fraternity of Dirt
Just because its dirt doesn't make it low tech
Member List
Joining please copy this entire text without quoting it then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.
wkndracer - first member coining the phrase on TPT
nonconductive, Member #2 VP & Tye Dye Frisbee Hater, kamikazi #3, wespastor #4, demonr6 #5, DogFish #6, driftwoodhunter #7, Bahugo #8, firefiend #9, batgirl #10, frrok #11, dbLbogie #12, The Dude #13, latnem #14, tonytrout2001@hotmail.com #15, mnellis3023 #16, Ichthyologuest #17, topfrog007 #18, Hilde #19, Nalu86 #20, Luecke1548 #21, seds #22, AesopRocks247 #23, iKine #24, DA PLANT MAN #25, JasonG75 #26, gil_ong #27, 5BodyBlade #28, RideTheSpiral #29, tuffgong #30, seandelevan #31, Moonshinetheslacker #32, Optix #33, SeaSlug182 #34, HD Blazingwolf #35, jhwku #36, dundee #37, madness #38 , cableguy69846 #39, Tharsis #40, Method #41, ShinyCard255 #42, BigTom #43, Diesel3443 #44, SlammedDC2 #45, irishchickadee #46, Daximus #47,1Aqumfish #48, jerilovesfrogs #49, Patriot100% #50, allaboutfish #51, storrisch #52, Talontsiawd#53, Tyger#54, iskandarreza #55,(IBmikmaq#56), LArifleMAN #57, Gtdad2 #58, BIG_Z #59, PaulG #60, kite949372 #61
 
#374 ·
Was talking to a worker at my lfs and got her interested in using MGOPM for her tank and I gave her the address to the planted tank. I think I created a monster.. she seemed super interested, I'm going back there tomorrow to buy a new 5gal for my betta so I will check to see if she took the plunge.
 
#375 ·
Okay well ... should have joined a few months ago ... but you know how things go!

We have a planted 30 gallon MTS with a fine fine gravel (even though they call it sand at the LFS, I call it gravel! lol) cap.

Edit: Realized that I'd never posted anything about our dirt tank on TPT and since a tank thread was required, I went ahead and started one!
30 Gallon MTS Farming Tank (no clever name, just the facts! LOL)


Okay soooo I'd like to contribute something to the fraternity by re-writing the list so that it is easier to read and join! (if that is okay!)


****************

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Fraternity of Dirt: Member List
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


To those joining, please copy this entire text without quoting it then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.

#1. wkndracer: first member coining the phrase on TPT
#2. nonconductive: Tye Dye Frisbee Hater
#3. kamikazi
#4. wespastor
#5. demonr6
#6. DogFish
#7. driftwoodhunter
#8. Bahugo
#9. firefiend
#10. batgirl
#11. frrok
#12. dbLbogie
#13. The Dude
#14. latnem
#15. tonytrout2001@hotmail.com
#16. mnellis3023
#17. Ichthyologuest
#18. topfrog007
#19. Hilde
#20. Nalu86
#21. Luecke1548
#22. seds
#23. AesopRocks247
#24. iKine
#25. DA PLANT MAN
#26. JasonG75
#27. gil_ong
#28. 5BodyBlade
#29. RideTheSpiral
#30. tuffgong
#31. seandelevan
#32. Moonshinetheslacker
#33. Optix
#34. SeaSlug182
#35. HD Blazingwolf
#36. jhwku
#37. dundee
#38. madness
#39. cableguy69846
#40. Tharsis
#41. Method
#42. ShinyCard255
#43. BigTom
#44. Diesel3443
#45. SlammedDC2
#46. irishchickadee
#47. Daximus
#48. 1Aqumfish
#49. jerilovesfrogs
#50. Patriot100%
#51. allaboutfish
#52. storrisch
#53. Talontsiawd
#54. Tyger
#55. iskandarreza
#56. IBmikmaq
#57. LArifleMAN
#58. Gtdad2
#59. BIG_Z
#60. PaulG
#61. kite949372
#62. Alyssa
 
#376 ·
I, like Alyssa, joined a couple months ago too but I always kept forgetting to post it here
****************

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Fraternity of Dirt: Member List
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


To those joining, please copy this entire text without quoting it then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.

#1. wkndracer: first member coining the phrase on TPT
#2. nonconductive: Tye Dye Frisbee Hater
#3. kamikazi
#4. wespastor
#5. demonr6
#6. DogFish
#7. driftwoodhunter
#8. Bahugo
#9. firefiend
#10. batgirl
#11. frrok
#12. dbLbogie
#13. The Dude
#14. latnem
#15. tonytrout2001@hotmail.com
#16. mnellis3023
#17. Ichthyologuest
#18. topfrog007
#19. Hilde
#20. Nalu86
#21. Luecke1548
#22. seds
#23. AesopRocks247
#24. iKine
#25. DA PLANT MAN
#26. JasonG75
#27. gil_ong
#28. 5BodyBlade
#29. RideTheSpiral
#30. tuffgong
#31. seandelevan
#32. Moonshinetheslacker
#33. Optix
#34. SeaSlug182
#35. HD Blazingwolf
#36. jhwku
#37. dundee
#38. madness
#39. cableguy69846
#40. Tharsis
#41. Method
#42. ShinyCard255
#43. BigTom
#44. Diesel3443
#45. SlammedDC2
#46. irishchickadee
#47. Daximus
#48. 1Aqumfish
#49. jerilovesfrogs
#50. Patriot100%
#51. allaboutfish
#52. storrisch
#53. Talontsiawd
#54. Tyger
#55. iskandarreza
#56. IBmikmaq
#57. LArifleMAN
#58. Gtdad2
#59. BIG_Z
#60. PaulG
#61. kite949372
#62. Alyssa
#63. Hcancino
 
#377 ·
Hello dirt people!!! I am about to set up my first dirt tank. It's only 150 gallons so it should be pretty simple, right?:cool: The soil and clay are not a problem. What I need to know is where can I find dolomite and muriate of potash.

Thanks for any help you can offer!:proud:
 
#378 ·
Several members sell MTS supplies in the SnS section so a search there should yield results.
Okay well ... should have joined a few months ago ... but you know how things go!

We have a planted 30 gallon MTS with a fine fine gravel (even though they call it sand at the LFS, I call it gravel! lol) cap.

Edit: Realized that I'd never posted anything about our dirt tank on TPT and since a tank thread was required, I went ahead and started one!
30 Gallon MTS Farming Tank (no clever name, just the facts! LOL)


Okay soooo I'd like to contribute something to the fraternity by re-writing the list so that it is easier to read and join! (if that is okay!)
****************
Huge thank you to those taking a minute and adding your names and tank threads to the list!!!! BUTT (that's me at times LOL)
Reformatting the list will just make new member postings a 1/2 page long (and longer as time goes on) so I'd prefer the paragraph format remain as is plz.

New members thanks again! and new tankers thinking about soil supplemented substrates I'm willing to bet any question you have about setup can be answered within this growing membership.

:smile:


//////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

The Fraternity of Dirt
Just because its dirt doesn't make it low tech
Member List
Joining please copy this entire text without quoting it, then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.
wkndracer - first member coining the phrase on TPT
nonconductive, Member #2 VP & Tye Dye Frisbee Hater, kamikazi #3, wespastor #4, demonr6 #5, DogFish #6, driftwoodhunter #7, Bahugo #8, firefiend #9, batgirl #10, frrok #11, dbLbogie #12, The Dude #13, latnem #14, tonytrout2001@hotmail.com #15, mnellis3023 #16, Ichthyologuest #17, topfrog007 #18, Hilde #19, Nalu86 #20, Luecke1548 #21, seds #22, AesopRocks247 #23, iKine #24, DA PLANT MAN #25, JasonG75 #26, gil_ong #27, 5BodyBlade #28, RideTheSpiral #29, tuffgong #30, seandelevan #31, Moonshinetheslacker #32, Optix #33, SeaSlug182 #34, HD Blazingwolf #35, jhwku #36, dundee #37, madness #38 , cableguy69846 #39, Tharsis #40, Method #41, ShinyCard255 #42, BigTom #43, Diesel3443 #44, SlammedDC2 #45, irishchickadee #46, Daximus #47,1Aqumfish #48, jerilovesfrogs #49, Patriot100% #50, allaboutfish #51, storrisch #52, Talontsiawd #53, Tyger#54, iskandarreza #55, IBmikmaq #56, LArifleMAN #57, Gtdad2 #58, BIG_Z#59, PaulG #60, kite949372 #61, Alyssa #62, Hcancino #63, (place your name here),

The first dirt tanker was a Caveman :hihi:
don't forget to link your thread :wink:

63! dirty tankers and counting
 
#381 ·
I do not have my tank thread setup yet but I might as well join the club, I will never do another planted tank again without dirt of some sort.

90 gallon
2 inches of MTS/organic TopSoil/Clay
1 inch sand top
4 T8 setup 50/50 Sunglo and Floraglo
LED moonlights
5lb Co2 dialed way down with UFO diffuser
Filstar Xp2
lots of wood

Fish: HQ Rasboras, GloLight tetras, SAE's, Rainbow Shark, Green Corys, Pearl Gourami, , a couple Danios and platys and one lonely White cloud mountain minnow

Plants: Wendi Crypts, Balansea, Moneywort, Amazon Sword, Java ferns, Anubias, Giant Hygro, Wisteria

//////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

The Fraternity of Dirt
Just because its dirt doesn't make it low tech
Member List
Joining please copy this entire text without quoting it, then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.
wkndracer - first member coining the phrase on TPT
nonconductive, Member #2 VP & Tye Dye Frisbee Hater, kamikazi #3, wespastor #4, demonr6 #5, DogFish #6, driftwoodhunter #7, Bahugo #8, firefiend #9, batgirl #10, frrok #11, dbLbogie #12, The Dude #13, latnem #14, tonytrout2001@hotmail.com #15, mnellis3023 #16, Ichthyologuest #17, topfrog007 #18, Hilde #19, Nalu86 #20, Luecke1548 #21, seds #22, AesopRocks247 #23, iKine #24, DA PLANT MAN #25, JasonG75 #26, gil_ong #27, 5BodyBlade #28, RideTheSpiral #29, tuffgong #30, seandelevan #31, Moonshinetheslacker #32, Optix #33, SeaSlug182 #34, HD Blazingwolf #35, jhwku #36, dundee #37, madness #38 , cableguy69846 #39, Tharsis #40, Method #41, ShinyCard255 #42, BigTom #43, Diesel3443 #44, SlammedDC2 #45, irishchickadee #46, Daximus #47,1Aqumfish #48, jerilovesfrogs #49, Patriot100% #50, allaboutfish #51, storrisch #52, Talontsiawd #53, Tyger#54, iskandarreza #55, IBmikmaq #56, LArifleMAN #57, Gtdad2 #58, BIG_Z#59, PaulG #60, kite949372 #61, Alyssa #62, Hcancino #63, BonesCJ #64
 
#383 ·
Hi, guys! I have used "dirt" in three of my planted tanks so far and am starting a fourth next week (just an overhaul of previous). I'll link my tank thread when it is up and running. I use MGOC PM in all of my aquariums now, never looking back.

//////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

The Fraternity of Dirt
Just because its dirt doesn't make it low tech
Member List
Joining please copy this entire text without quoting it, then insert it (paste) in your joining post and add yourself at the end.
wkndracer - first member coining the phrase on TPT
nonconductive, Member #2 VP & Tye Dye Frisbee Hater, kamikazi #3, wespastor #4, demonr6 #5, DogFish #6, driftwoodhunter #7, Bahugo #8, firefiend #9, batgirl #10, frrok #11, dbLbogie #12, The Dude #13, latnem #14, tonytrout2001@hotmail.com #15, mnellis3023 #16, Ichthyologuest #17, topfrog007 #18, Hilde #19, Nalu86 #20, Luecke1548 #21, seds #22, AesopRocks247 #23, iKine #24, DA PLANT MAN #25, JasonG75 #26, gil_ong #27, 5BodyBlade #28, RideTheSpiral #29, tuffgong #30, seandelevan #31, Moonshinetheslacker #32, Optix #33, SeaSlug182 #34, HD Blazingwolf #35, jhwku #36, dundee #37, madness #38 , cableguy69846 #39, Tharsis #40, Method #41, ShinyCard255 #42, BigTom #43, Diesel3443 #44, SlammedDC2 #45, irishchickadee #46, Daximus #47,1Aqumfish #48, jerilovesfrogs #49, Patriot100% #50, allaboutfish #51, storrisch #52, Talontsiawd #53, Tyger#54, iskandarreza #55, IBmikmaq #56, LArifleMAN #57, Gtdad2 #58, BIG_Z#59, PaulG #60, kite949372 #61, Alyssa #62, Hcancino #63, BonesCJ #64, Marconis #65
 
#384 ·
Does anyone else have these tiny little worms in their dirt substrate? They are off white ish and about half an inch to an inch long. I never noticed them till today and I don't think they were introduce into my fishtank from anything I added unless my water had eggs in it and then I have bigger problems. I only have 6 otos and 50+ Malaysian trumpet snails and ramshorn snails. They don't seem too be affecting my otos either. I'm about to pick up 50 cherry shrimp on Wednesday and want to make sure these won't affect them. If fish will eat them then I will pick up some corys.
 
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