Hello,
I have had my planted tank up for about a month and a half now. I did kind of an experiment with my substrate and I think its working quite well, except for one thing. First of all Ill describe my substrate.
This tank was one I converted to a planted tank. Being that its a redo I already had aqaurium rock in the bottom (about 1 1/2 inchs). I went and bought some potting soil from a hardware store then put it all in a big tub and dumped water in it. Let it sit for a day. Then took a fish net and skimed for any floating debrie. Stired mud and did process again. I did this for 4 days. After that I took a small amount of the mud (about 10 plastic cups full, 55 gal) and mixed it in with the aquarium rock. After that was done I took a product called Black Blast (used for sand blasting, shers of Iron slag from what i understand) and covered the mud/rocks with the black blast with about 1 1/2 - 2 inchs. This worked really well for planting, nice and fine! And the roots seem to be getting to the soil now for nutrients. Plants are thriving!
Now to the problem. I have been inspecting the substrate and it seems that poop is building up on the top. I can siphon this off but its very difficult. From what ive read leaving it there is fine. BUT they say if it builds up that bad! So whats considered build up? here and there? turd every centimeter? solid poop? The poop is only where its open bottom the heavily planted spots are getting rid of it.
Heres the fish I have
6 mollies
4 neon tetra's
1 peguin fish
1 glass fish
1 oto (1 just died :icon_frow )
2 guppies
2 other small fish forgot names)
I dont think this is too heavily stocked in my opinion. What do you guys think? Opinions, comments, or questions welcome on anything.
Thanks
Mitchell
I have had my planted tank up for about a month and a half now. I did kind of an experiment with my substrate and I think its working quite well, except for one thing. First of all Ill describe my substrate.
This tank was one I converted to a planted tank. Being that its a redo I already had aqaurium rock in the bottom (about 1 1/2 inchs). I went and bought some potting soil from a hardware store then put it all in a big tub and dumped water in it. Let it sit for a day. Then took a fish net and skimed for any floating debrie. Stired mud and did process again. I did this for 4 days. After that I took a small amount of the mud (about 10 plastic cups full, 55 gal) and mixed it in with the aquarium rock. After that was done I took a product called Black Blast (used for sand blasting, shers of Iron slag from what i understand) and covered the mud/rocks with the black blast with about 1 1/2 - 2 inchs. This worked really well for planting, nice and fine! And the roots seem to be getting to the soil now for nutrients. Plants are thriving!
Now to the problem. I have been inspecting the substrate and it seems that poop is building up on the top. I can siphon this off but its very difficult. From what ive read leaving it there is fine. BUT they say if it builds up that bad! So whats considered build up? here and there? turd every centimeter? solid poop? The poop is only where its open bottom the heavily planted spots are getting rid of it.
Heres the fish I have
6 mollies
4 neon tetra's
1 peguin fish
1 glass fish
1 oto (1 just died :icon_frow )
2 guppies
2 other small fish forgot names)
I dont think this is too heavily stocked in my opinion. What do you guys think? Opinions, comments, or questions welcome on anything.
Thanks
Mitchell