Go Back   Aquatic Plant Central > General Interest Forums > El Natural
User Name
Password

Advertise on APC

El Natural Diana Walstad's low-maintenance, soil-based 'El Natural' method for keeping plants and fish.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-14-2008, 07:36 PM   #121 (permalink)
Junior Member
 
torpedobarb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 27
iTrader Ratings: 3
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
torpedobarb is a regular member
Plant Points: 1650
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

I am going to have to read that. it does get exhausting having to dose daily. it would be a huge undertaking when I do it though.

will I ever have to redo it for nutrients? or does it pretty much last forever?
torpedobarb is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote

Advertisement [Remove Advertisement]

Old 08-14-2008, 09:01 PM   #122 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
AaronT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 4,424
iTrader Ratings: 137
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
AaronT is a valuable member of the communityAaronT is a valuable member of the communityAaronT is a valuable member of the community
Plant Points: 170478
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by torpedobarb View Post
I am going to have to read that. it does get exhausting having to dose daily. it would be a huge undertaking when I do it though.

will I ever have to redo it for nutrients? or does it pretty much last forever?
It pretty well lasts forever. The fellow who introduced me to the concept has had tanks running for 15 years now. A very tiny dose of potassium weekly is needed after a few months of setup. I do mean tiny too, like 0.5 ppm is all it takes or they'll be algae.
AaronT is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2008, 12:54 AM   #123 (permalink)
Member
 
looking4roselines's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 84
iTrader Ratings: 21
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
looking4roselines is a regular member
Plant Points: 5450
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

Looks like we got ourselves a new recruit.
looking4roselines is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2008, 04:13 AM   #124 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
Jag1980's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Washington
Posts: 128
iTrader Ratings: 5
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
Jag1980 is a regular member
Plant Points: 8950
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

Can I just use my Fluorite I already have instead of making the mud pie and just add the bulk minerals under my substrate? I will read this whole thread it this will work, instead of just the first page.
Jag1980 is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2008, 06:28 AM   #125 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
AaronT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 4,424
iTrader Ratings: 137
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
AaronT is a valuable member of the communityAaronT is a valuable member of the communityAaronT is a valuable member of the community
Plant Points: 170478
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jag1980 View Post
Can I just use my Fluorite I already have instead of making the mud pie and just add the bulk minerals under my substrate? I will read this whole thread it this will work, instead of just the first page.
You can use Flourite as the top layer, but it doesn't have near the nutrients that the soil does. The mud is the whole point of the system. It should provide all of the necessary nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements that your plants will need to grow well.

Reading this whole thread could be a daunting task by now. I suggest reading the article I wrote in the Library section to start off with. It should only take about 10 minutes to read.
AaronT is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 09:12 PM   #126 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
zer0zax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 338
iTrader Ratings: 1
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
zer0zax is a regular member
Plant Points: 34650
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

Hey Aaron! Have you or SCMurphy tried mineralized soil without Co2? I want to give this a shot someday, but I am planning on using low light/no Co2. I plan to use mainly Cryptocoryne Affinis and a lot of cypress roots on the backwall with the tops growing emergent (They don't last long submersed). I think the hardwater crypts will love the minerals and I should have crazy root mass, just wondering how the slow growth would hold up.

It makes sense that the mineralized method would provide nutrients easier to plants as wetland water is constantly rising and falling throughout the years, exposing the soil to air and everything else imaginable before being submersed again. All of the lakes and ponds I've tromped around had very little fresh organic material under the top inch of substrate...
zer0zax is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2008, 02:46 PM   #127 (permalink)
Junior Member
 
torpedobarb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 27
iTrader Ratings: 3
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
torpedobarb is a regular member
Plant Points: 1650
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

looking4roselines... yes you did! I started the soil rinsing and drying last week.

I am looking for a link to where I can purchase the clay from. not to be picky.. but a direct link to the exact stuff I need. I googled red potting clay and there are so many different kinds. I know to stay away from polymer clays. if someone would do this it would be great. thanks, Ken
torpedobarb is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2008, 05:44 PM   #128 (permalink)
Junior Member
 
torpedobarb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 27
iTrader Ratings: 3
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
torpedobarb is a regular member
Plant Points: 1650
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

will this sand work like the 3m colorquartz?
http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...g=true&cFlag=1
torpedobarb is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2008, 07:45 PM   #129 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 472
iTrader Ratings: 25
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
ingg is a regular member
Plant Points: 29550
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

torpedobarb - for the blasting sand, I *think* so, but not sure. It is a sized sand anyhow.

For clay, look for pottery supply stores in your area, or look for folks making hand made pottery. I started googling pottery makers in my area, and then found a couple supply houses.
ingg is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2008, 08:57 PM   #130 (permalink)
Junior Member
 
torpedobarb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 27
iTrader Ratings: 3
iTrader Positive Rating: 100%
torpedobarb is a regular member
Plant Points: 1650
Default Re: El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

I did find some clay.. here is a link to what I bought.. will this work?
http://www.dickblick.com/zz332/31/
torpedobarb is offline  
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply


Aquatic Plant Central > General Interest Forums > El Natural > El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!)

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:47 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.1.0

Copyright © 2006 - 2009 Aquatic Plant Central | About Aquatic Plant Central | Advertising Opportunities | Legal | A member of the Crowdgather Forum Community
Created by Blue Moose Designs