Question of the Day Sand, inert or soil? Which would you pick and why?

[Art 174]

Up to this point I have been concentrating on growing plants well and not on aquascaping, and composition etc.

That’s exactly the process. Amano is the person that said you can’t aquascape until you can grow plants well.

I also absolutely love the picture you posted. That is a true aquatic gardener. Look at what’s on the counter in front of the aquarium - test kits, syringes, fertilizer, sponge, glass cleaning towel, and even a stone turtle. Love it!

 

[Pepere]

I believe these fell out of favor with planted tanks because the detritus that accumulates in the substrate (DOC) were being pumped into the water column and, it was believed, that would lead to algae.

As I have fiven this some thought, it is likely that my also having a canister filter is able to mitigate this concern well by fairly quickly sucking that up and securing it in the polishing pads…

my personal suspicion is that people running UGF as sole filtering method, esp air driven, likely struggle with algae more simply due to insufficient flow.

 

[Pepere]

even a stone turtle. Love it!

My 4 year old grandson insisted on buying this for me when he was going through a gift shop after visiting a Public Aquarium.

I returned to the hobby after a twenty year absence so my two grandsons, (2 1/2 months apart) could enjoy them when they come visit me.

I set this 20 high up at floor level with Glo Skirt Tetras just for them to enjoy while they play with my Lesney Matchbox cars and mini Tonka Trucks from the early 70s, on my bedroom floor.

 

[GreggZ 18]

My 4 year old grandson insisted on buying this for me when he was going through a gift shop after visiting a Public Aquarium.

I returned to the hobby after a twenty year absence so my two grandsons, (2 1/2 months apart) could enjoy them when they come visit me.
View attachment 4035
I set this 20 high up at floor level with Glo Skirt Tetras just for them to enjoy while they play with my Lesney Matchbox cars and mini Tonka Trucks from the early 70s, on my bedroom floor.

LOL I love everything about this post. From the matchbox cars, to the tonka trucks, to the grandkids, to the nicely executed planted tank. You sound like a good man!!

 

[Tim Harrison]

I’ve used Amazonia and other Gucci substrate, capped soil, and pond compost, sand, and gravel. All have given good results they just require slightly different approaches when it comes to fertz. You can grow plants in marbles with appropriate water column dosing.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins 446]

My 4 year old grandson insisted on buying this for me when he was going through a gift shop after visiting a Public Aquarium.

I returned to the hobby after a twenty year absence so my two grandsons, (2 1/2 months apart) could enjoy them when they come visit me.
View attachment 4035
I set this 20 high up at floor level with Glo Skirt Tetras just for them to enjoy while they play with my Lesney Matchbox cars and mini Tonka Trucks from the early 70s, on my bedroom floor.

What a beautiful flamingo crypt

 

[CMooner]

For 15+ years, I've only used Flourite black in my CO2 tanks, both eco-complete and Flourite in non-CO2 Tanks. Since I have re-used the these substrates over and over, it has been cheap in the long run. Maybe someday I will try aqua soils

 

[SingAlongWithTsing 27]

If it's a glass tank I'm scaping in I'll use whatever I have on hand.
If it's an acrylic tank, I'm gonna lean more towards aquasoil. I'm too paranoid of scratching up the inside of the tank lol.

This is just from a maintenance stand point though.

125 Gallon glass - BDBS



125 Gallon glass - Saf-t-sorb


Didnt have much of a dust issue with it after letting some of it sit in a 27 gallon tote with a powerhead that had a sponge and polyfil.

180 gallon acrylic - UNS Controsoil


Random thought/opinion of UGFs.
I can see UGF's being used for periodic maintenances, just attach it to a canister filter to clean up the muck built up in the soil occasionally. It's something I've thinking about but never attempted cuz idk how necessary it would be in a planted tank.

 

[Unexpected 5]

ou sound like a good man!!

Good women I believe

 

[Mr.Shenanagins 446]

@SingAlongWithTsing did you just dump the Safe T Sorb in or you followed the “loading” protocol that’s advocated with it.

 

[SingAlongWithTsing 27]

@SingAlongWithTsing did you just dump the Safe T Sorb in or you followed the “loading” protocol that’s advocated with it.

my tap water already has around 8~10ppm NO3, 64+ ppm Ca, and 16+ ppm Mg, some Fe, and some K so I didnt have to do much except lit in sit in a tote of water for a few days lol.

But yeah I would advocate with preloading with at least with whatever you have in your tap