[moonshinetheslacker]

I was wondering about something... I'm planning on dirtying ***EDIT*** DIRTING! ***EDIT*** up my new 75 gallon tank, and all my tanks thus far are dirt. Could I lay down the dirt, then put a layer of filter floss over the entire substrate, and then pour sand over the filter floss? I would assume that the plants roots would go right through the filter floss. Then when I go to move any plants, maybe I could keep the mess to a minimum by just trimming the roots at the level at the top of the filter floss. Therefore keeping from pulling up a bunch of dirt along with it.

Anyone have any idea as to whether or not this will work?
***EDIT*** My most sincere apologies for anyone who may have been offended, emotionally hurt, or mentally/spiritually confused due to my previous statement, and incorrect grammar. I do hope that all members of the aquatic community will hear my plea of sorrow, and accept my deepest, most heartfelt apologies.
Truly yours,
Moonshine.***EDIT***:flick:

 

[JasonG75]

Not sure about that....also its called DIRTING (drop the Y)

I think you would have more than normal air pockets, Build up. Not really sure but it is a nice thought. I never really had any problem with getting the dirty, but there is one rule about a dirted tank...once you plant it let it be (no rearranging) if there is a plant with deep roots CUT it as close to the substrate as possible and leave the roots be.

 

[Optix]

its really overexaggerated about not being able to move your plants after you go dirt substrate

after some time...the soil becomes so waterlogged that if you do pull up a plant or two...the soil comes up and sinks within seconds/minutes

...of course if you are doing soil capped with WHITE PFS...then it will look messy if you rearrange too much

basically tho...if you are using a dirt substrate, no major rescapes or overhauls of your tank and youll be fine

also...the filter floss idea is overkill and not needed

 

[moonshinetheslacker]

Aww, c'mon... nobody thought my edits were funny?

 

[JasonG75]

Aww, c'mon... nobody thought my edits were funny?

lol

 

[KrazyFish]

the filter floss may work (I agree it's overkill). Another problem - if you ever do decide to move a plant I am sure the roots would be so intertwined with the floss that you might end up pulling it up like a carpet or simply tearing the roots off the crown.
I would not take this approach.

 

[Optix]

Aww, c'mon... nobody thought my edits were funny?

not really...looks like youre being petty while asking others for help

 

[JSA]

not really...looks like youre being petty while asking others for help

Moonshine, I thought your edits were funny! But then, everyone groans when I exercise my sense of humor too.

And Optix, perhaps you're being a little petty, jumping on someone who's just asking for help?

Julia

 

[wkndracer]

Skip adding the floss in the sub layering,,, bad idea. Hopeless mess with the roots getting in it.

edits were a giggle.

reading the first post I caught the comment that you have 'dirted:smile:' tanks before so you know what to expect with a new setup.

 

[tharsis]

I actually tried this in a previous tank, I laid polyfil over a thin layer of osmocote pellets. as mentioned above, the roots got tangled in the polyfill and essentially became immovable. So I would not recommend it, as it makes it even more difficult to move plants.

 

[moonshinetheslacker]

I actually tried this in a previous tank, I laid polyfil over a thin layer of osmocote pellets. as mentioned above, the roots got tangled in the polyfill and essentially became immovable. So I would not recommend it, as it makes it even more difficult to move plants.

Awesome! Thanks for filling me in. I really appreciate it. I'll just use a couple of inches of sand over the dirt then. Thanks much!

And I do apologize if I'm coming off as petty. I have a sense of humor that many don't get. The edit was supposed to be funny. Jason, sorry if I have offended.

 

[roadmaster]

Have used Nylon mesh found at craft and hobby stores to cover dirt and then cap with sand.
Mesh I used was near as small as window screen. Root's don't penetrate through the mesh and apparently didn't need to to sustain growth.
Actually made less of a mess when moving plant's by keeping dirt and sand from mixing.

 

[Optix]

but thats half the magic of the internet

...it happens, no big deal
the way I read the edit was in a sarcastic voice because I saw the thread before and AFTER the edit
I guess if I read the entire thing in one sitting, I would have thought differently

I read it as

you say something...someone corrects you...and you make a big, sarcastic scene like "Im soo-ooo-ry [read with multiple syllables])"

but still...if youre worried about making a mess with your substrate, just get a commercial substrate and keep it uniform...like all flourite, all eco complete, all floramax etc..then you can move and rearrange all you want