Peat compost as substrate??
news.singa.pore.net
"news.singa.pore.net" <crou...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:aag2r0$vq82$1...@engel.scvmaxonline.com.sg...
> I am trying to find out if potting soil which is made up of peat compost
> suitable for freshwater aquarium. I understand we have to lay a layer of
> gravel on top to keep loose soil material mucking up the water. But will
> there be adverse effects on the water quality for say, South American
> cichlids?
>
> Thanks for any info
>
>
Harry Muscle
peat will soften the water ... so that might be an adverse effect on the
water for your fish. Also if you are using peat to help plants out ... you
should know that peat doesn't last too long when it comes to prividing
nutrients for plants in water. Maybe a couple of months tops.
Harry
"news.singa.pore.net" <crou...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Jeri Lynn Smith
old and doing fine in our very hard water.
2. In my "Diana Walstad experiment," I inadvertently purchased potting soil
with peat. I would not recommend it. The peat colors the water. After almost
a year, the water in my 30g still colors up within a day or two of a water
change. Since I like the way my plants are growing in this substrate, I've
left it in (also, I'm really not in the mood to tear down/rebuild the tank).
But, I'm frequently unhappy about the water color.
Jeri Lynn
in article opbz8.8179$xv5.3...@carnaval.risq.qc.ca, Harry Muscle at
harry.DOT.muscle@AT@usa.DOT.net wrote on 4/29/02 8:55 AM:
Jody
depending on how you like your water. The peat (and there are different
kinds) will acidify your water and stain it. This actually replicates SA
blackwater rivers and streams quite well which is where many dwarf cichlids
live, so you would be creating a biotope situation. However, the nutrients
from the peat may cause algae problems. Most users of peat in substrate
keep it well-buried beneath layers of other types of substrate.
Incidentally, some dwarf cichlid keepers filter their water with peat to
create soft, acidic, tainted water. Canadian spaghum peat is the kind
usually recommended.
-Jody
"news.singa.pore.net" <crou...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Kay
I read her book and I agree with you , my first tank has peat under the
gravel, I have quilting batting holding it down and then gravel, I assume
that will break down and I will have the water color problem sometime, but
my plants are doing so weel.
My 2nd tank I just started with top soil under the gravel seems to be
working out just when I followed the book.
Kay
--
Legacy Aquaria Foruma at www.langsite.com
"...
Jeri Lynn Smith
into a little "bag" for my Whispers. It's also way cheaper than filter floss
from the LFS.
Jeri Lynn
in article 9JUz8.37870$vX.4129@rwcrnsc53, Kay at k...@NOSPAMlangsite.com
wrote on 5/1/02 12:28 PM:
Mike Edwardes
not what you add to the substrate but what you don't add. Peat-based
compost contain little or no clay particles, which means that the
substrate will have a low CEC (cation exchange capacity). This can
inhibit plant growth. In her book, Diana Walstad reports on several
experiments with peat-based composts vs. soil. She found soil to be
best. My results tend to agree with hers:
http://mike-edwardes.members.beeb.net/plant/lotech.html
Mike.
--
Mike Edwardes Tropicals
http://mike-edwardes.members.beeb.net
Kay
however, tank1 with the peat has lushious plant growth
http://www.langsite.com/aquaria/tank1.html
As you can see in the photos.
Kay
--
Legacy Aquaria Foruma at www.langsite.com
LeighMo
experiments with peat-based composts vs. soil. She found soil to be
best. My results tend to agree with hers:
http://mike-edwardes.members.beeb.net/plant/lotech.html <<
Wow. Your page is fascinating. I can't believe you grew that corkscrew Val
jungle with just one flourescent tube, on for only 5 hours a day!
And your overstocked tanks with moderate light, no filters, almost no
maintenance, and lush plant growth are making me feel like a dope for going
high-tech.
I really should read Ms. Walstead's book. I've been meaning to, but haven't
gotten around to buying it yet.
Kay
I do believe I have compact lighting on that one, I used to have a cpr bio
filter in the beginning, which is a saltwater filter but worked great on the
planted tank, I used to fertilize with all seachem products, but I was
having a snail explosion, then I tried to cut back feeding that didn't work.
I read the book and thought that maybe the plants were taking the fertilizer
in and ignoring the fish waste and fish food there by feeding the snails.
So After I read the book off came the filter, I do use some airation cause
the fish jump in the bubbles and stopped using any fertilizers, Tank looked
cleaner, Snail reduced, I have been lucky not to have an algae problem
except blue green in the very begining from a new plant.
I don't think high tech is wrong. Low tech just worked out for me cause of
the type of fish and the amount of plants I started out with, if I wanted an
oscar or a discus I don't think it would work.
Kay
--
Legacy Aquaria Foruma at www.langsite.com
LeighMo
filter in the beginning, which is a saltwater filter but worked great on the
planted tank, I used to fertilize with all seachem products, but I was
having a snail explosion, then I tried to cut back feeding that didn't work.
I read the book and thought that maybe the plants were taking the fertilizer
in and ignoring the fish waste and fish food there by feeding the snails.
So After I read the book off came the filter, I do use some airation cause
the fish jump in the bubbles and stopped using any fertilizers, Tank looked
cleaner, Snail reduced, I have been lucky not to have an algae problem
except blue green in the very begining from a new plant. <<
Fascinating. I want more snails, myself. (I feed them to the loaches.) Maybe
I should fertilize more.
>> I don't think high tech is wrong. <<
I don't, either, but I'm really, really lazy. The idea of a tank with so
little maintenance is very appealing to a slug like me. :-)
Kay
LeighMo
Yes, I've got a variety of fish. Mostly tetras right now. And shrimp. I've
gotten very interested in shrimp lately.
Henricus
"Mike Edwardes" <mike_e...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:628efc89.0205...@posting.google.com...
The four goldfish tank was coooool! I see that on the next tank you used
topsoil, unlike your first one. Was this better for you? Do you think it
really matters? How did the two compare?
---
HC
Mike Edwardes
I didn't use soil in the goldfish tank as I was worried about the fish
digging and stirring the substrate up into the water column. With the
experience of the other tanks (with soil), I would definitely try soil
with goldfish, as long as I had a couple of inches of gravel on top of
the soil. However, running the tanks filterless as I am now, you
would have to expect a certain amount of debris sturred up in the
water column by goldfish - that's just the way they are. I don't
think this would hurt plant growth, but the water would not be crystal
clear (I get the same problem with Corydoras), and many people would
not like this. I am confident that plant growth would be better with
soil than without. Another plus is that you would not have to worry
about surface scum with goldfish, which constantly skim the surface!
Henricus
> "Henricus" <henXｺｰｴ 靏ﾑ/?a ﾘｮ ｭtscape.net> wrote in message
Thanks Mike that makes sense.
-
HC