Upgrading advice - New to Planted Aquariums

00nothing · 02-07-2011, 06:03 PM

I am going to be upgrading from a 40 breeder to a 75 and have a few questions

First a bit about the 40 it has been a great setup mixed batch of plants got a little overly excited with my first tank and didnt plan my scape as well as i wanted to. The tank is being lit by dual t5ho has pressurized co2, run of the mill playsand substrate and filtration handled by an xp4 i do not dose ferts right now exccept for adding flourish excel

this was taken shortly after stripping out over 4 cups of java

Now onto the parts i need help with I am going to be moving into the 75 gallon sometime in the next few weeks but have a whole new plan when it comes to plants

I am going to run glosso in the foreground and dwarf hairgrass in the background all the other plants are going to friends, I am planning on laying down a bed of peat under the substrate to help lower the ph hardwater is an issue for me. I am considering going with a cap of topsoil over the peat but am hesitant mostly due to lack of knowledge and a failed attempt at mineralizing topsoil previously things were just to hard to plant, that being said if i shouldnt use straight topsoil without minerlizing i won't to cold her in ontario and no place indoors to do it. I love the playsand for its ability to hold a plant so would like to use it as the topcap again and if its recommended re-use the sand i already have in the 40. Equipment will remain identical with the exception of getting 4 ft lights and adding a scwd to give me flow on both ends of the tank

Well thats all i can think of right now but I am sure more questions will arise as i move forward

lastly the reason for the upgrade 3 beautiful wild angels I have had these guys for over 2 months and they are doing great, I was told these are altums but i suck at ID all i do know for sure is they are wild and are the reason for going to the 75

**davemonkey** · 02-09-2011, 08:40 AM

For your topsoil concern, how about just find a place with "clean" soil (your yard, a ranch where chemicals are not used, etc... ) and jsut dig the soil you need (down to about 4" deep). That soil is already "mineralized"...and has been for hundrends of years no doubt. Just make sure the soil is free of chemicals (pesticides, etc... ). You don't need alot of Peat, jut a thin sprinkling under the soil/substrate layer. If you use soil, it should be capped with at least 1.5" of gravel/other substrate or at least .5" sand.

00nothing · 02-09-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davemonkey

For your topsoil concern, how about just find a place with "clean" soil (your yard, a ranch where chemicals are not used, etc... ) and jsut dig the soil you need (down to about 4" deep). That soil is already "mineralized"...and has been for hundrends of years no doubt. Just make sure the soil is free of chemicals (pesticides, etc... ). You don't need alot of Peat, jut a thin sprinkling under the soil/substrate layer. If you use soil, it should be capped with at least 1.5" of gravel/other substrate or at least .5" sand.

Thanks dave i never thought of using soil from somewhere to bad its all frozen right now or i would head out and dig some up