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Hi, I'm starting a new aquarium project that is ultimately for mosses and other plants that don't root in gravel.
And now the question arises, does it also make sense to use soil under the gravel in such an aquarium?
I could plant some plants with roots, but mainly at the back wall of the aquarium (and possibly on the sides). So I don't know if I should use soil on the whole area under the gravel? Or just in the areas where the plants with root systems are supposed to be? Or should I not use dirt at all in this situation?
The book by D. Walstad I read a long time ago, but if I remember correctly there was information that if the plants are not well rooted in the aquarium with soil, you can poison the aquarium water.
I want these mosses and other plants to grow beautifully, I don't want them to just survive.
Maybe someone knows of an alternative to an aquarium with soil that will do a much better job with plants without a root system?
I have heard that volcanic lava, for example, releases "fertilizers" into the water. I don't know, maybe I should use a natural substrate that fertilizes the water itself?
I was also thinking about this option to make a dirt-free aquarium, but keeping other aquarium principles a'la D. Walstad, including abundant feeding as fertilizer for these mosses (shrimp would be there). But I don't know if this will work in a dirt-free aquarium, won't it spoil the water quality?
An example from the book (written in my words)- when the soil substrate gets depleted after many years, the aquarium should still be good because the bottom of the aquarium is not cleaned and contains nutrient silt.
Thanks.
Natalia.
And now the question arises, does it also make sense to use soil under the gravel in such an aquarium?
I could plant some plants with roots, but mainly at the back wall of the aquarium (and possibly on the sides). So I don't know if I should use soil on the whole area under the gravel? Or just in the areas where the plants with root systems are supposed to be? Or should I not use dirt at all in this situation?
The book by D. Walstad I read a long time ago, but if I remember correctly there was information that if the plants are not well rooted in the aquarium with soil, you can poison the aquarium water.
I want these mosses and other plants to grow beautifully, I don't want them to just survive.
Maybe someone knows of an alternative to an aquarium with soil that will do a much better job with plants without a root system?
I have heard that volcanic lava, for example, releases "fertilizers" into the water. I don't know, maybe I should use a natural substrate that fertilizes the water itself?
I was also thinking about this option to make a dirt-free aquarium, but keeping other aquarium principles a'la D. Walstad, including abundant feeding as fertilizer for these mosses (shrimp would be there). But I don't know if this will work in a dirt-free aquarium, won't it spoil the water quality?
An example from the book (written in my words)- when the soil substrate gets depleted after many years, the aquarium should still be good because the bottom of the aquarium is not cleaned and contains nutrient silt.
Thanks.
Natalia.
