Raul-7

Xema, do you dilute the earthworm castings with sand?

Xema

niko,

In Choco-Cube, i have a 70w HQI (metal halide)6000ºK spot and 2x36w 6000ºK PLL. It´s a DIY ligthing hood, which I name "Enterprise", like "Star Treck" space-ship.



Raul-7,

Not only dilute with sand, with red clay (like laterite), vermiculite and blond peat too.


Greetings from Spain

Raul-7

Just a question about Vladimir's method, do I put laterite over the castings or vice versa?

Xema

not over, mixed.

hubbahubbahehe

these mixtures all sound very interesting...but wouldn't it be easier to just go buy a bag of flourite or profile or eco complete and let it establish with mulm and boom you are done?

Raul-7

But soil substrates are cheap and don't require that much liquid fertilization, actually they don't need any! As for Eco-Complete, Flourite, etc. there expensive and don't really provide anything but a long-term iron supply.

aquaverde

Hubba, sure, but that is not what I would call an enriched substrate. There's so many different combinations to try, and as yet not one is what I'd call a magic bullet.

I'm going to be using Eco, Volcanit, and Onyx in my next tank. But there's going to be macros and humics in the understory.

hubbahubbahehe

ok both you guys, those are very valid points and very very interesting too. To be honest, I would love to have a substrate where i don't need to worry about fertilization cuz i'm a busy man as i'm sure you all are busy as well. Then my question to you is...how could i enrich my already established flourite tanks and eco complete tanks? perhaps add some soil cubes??? I'm open to suggestions (but only tried and true ones lol...my experimenting days are over....)

aquaverde

The primary substrate should provide porosity, high CEC, to provide the physical location for the necessary chemical reactions. Then you want a source of humic acids for the chemical reactions. Third, you need a source of nutrients to be acted on.

The only way to do all 3 on an established substrate is to tear down the tank and add peat to the lower part, or lignite, if you have that (diamond black). Then you add plant tabs, worm castings, nutrient-soaked zeolite, bat guano, or whatever floats your boat.

The easiest thing for you to do is just get some Seachem plant tabs or Jobe's sticks and push 'em down in the gravel. That should work nicely for you. But don't get the idea you won't have to do water column ferts any more, especially if the tank is fast.

hubbahubbahehe

Hey James,

Thanks for the info!! I have an idea about enriching my flourite substrate. How bout if I make some "soil cubes" or "peat cubes" fresh from the freezer and then push them down into the flourite?