Mineralized Top Soil Substrate *Pics Updated 12/14 page 1*

[Torpedobarb]

I purchased some of this clay.. let me know if this is the right stuff.. it isn't polymer based.. here is the link
http://www.dickblick.com/zz332/31/

[Riley]

I am tearing down my 75 today to get ready for the soil as well!

Very cool that alot of people are trying this!

[Qckwzrd]

I just got in from purchaseing some Potash, it was a 5lb bag. This should be enough since I'm using it on a small tank.

http://www.espoma.com/content.aspx?t...egoryID=1&id=7

If you have problems finding it I think they have a list of dealers on the website.

[Chad]

Does anybody know how many bags of 3M Black T Grade CQ it would take to cover the mineralized topsoil in a 75 gal?

[lauraleellbp]

I'd just get one 50lb bag.

[Torpedobarb]

I was actually told by AaronT to get 2 bags of it.. so 100lbs

[lauraleellbp]

Really? Just for a cap? One bag gave me about 2" in my 90gal... course, it never hurts to have extra

[Left C]

"Step 7 – Add the Dolomite and Muriate of Potash

Sprinkle a light dusting of both the dolomite and muriate of potash on the bottom glass of the tank. The bottom of the glass should still be somewhat visible."

In Step 7, could you use Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4) instead of Muriate of Potash (Potassium Chloride - KCl)?

KCl is about 3 times more soluble in water at 20°C than K2SO4. KCl's solubility is 34.0 g/100 mL and K2SO4's solubility is 11.1 g/100 mL.

Is this why KCl is used?

[ingg]

I did 2 bags in my 75, 1 bag and probably 20 pounds of accent stone in my 50.


LeftC, excellent question I have no idea on the answer to! It may be a cost thing - I bought 50 pounds of potash for what I'd buy a pound of Potassium Sulfate for.... or it may be a particle size thing, as K2SO4 is dust, while the potash is crystals like small pebbles (easier to lay down and put mud on top of without clumping it up)... not sure tho.... I'll see if I can ask!

[Torpedobarb]

I am on my last round of washing the soil. I will have to let it dry out over the weekend and then I am ready to go. I am anxious to do this.. but nervous too.

[greatfish123]

Good Luck! I just started a new tank with soil this past week and my worst fear of the water turning murky from the soil turned out to be unfounded.

[lauraleellbp]

Ken, are you letting yours driy inside the tub, or spreading it out?

[Torpedobarb]

I spread it out thinly on a black tarp in the direct sunlight.. I put it out about 8am and by 7pm it is totally dry. I go over to it a few times during the day to stomp the bigger clumps down more and sift it around to dry completely. you can definitely tell that it is working.. it is staying like a sandy consistency now. I have the clay and potash already along with the dolamite. I can't find the colorquartz sand here to save my life.. and I am not driving over 2hrs for it. I will have to find a substitute. I don't want to reuse my sms.. I would like to have a black sand.

[ingg]

Originally Posted by greatfish123

Good Luck! I just started a new tank with soil this past week and my worst fear of the water turning murky from the soil turned out to be unfounded.

Don't worry, they'll be possibly be founded soon. Every tank I've started goes through a cloudy, not quite green water stage a few days after startup. A couple of them I've heard tell of (but not had it go to it personally) have all out green water. Be patient with it if it happens and it'll fade, doesn't last long for me.



Definitely put it on a tarp, it'll take forever to dry otherwise. Better off doing an extra cycle instead in my opinion, so you can dump more of the foamy goop off as you re-submerse it.

Oh! Don't skip sifting it - I like that it pulls out all the rocks and bits of wood, and you won't believe how it feels after, silty soft fluffy... it is amazing that is starts out as this lumpy bag of dirt, and ends up as super fine silt almost.



Torpedobarb, you could look into blasting sand, used for sandblasting.... not sure where to source the stuff though, or what colors it may have. It is also size graded though which is the big plus here - just not positive what it'll be made out of. Could also look into mixing some Flourite black sand into SMS or something? Just trying to find you options. Bummer about the 3M not being local anywhere for you.

[Torpedobarb]

I could try the flourite black sand.. I have to try and find it too!

tractor supply stores have the black diamond sand for sandblasting.. but not sure how that would look in the tank