How To Set Up A Dirted Tank For Optimal Plant Growth!
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- I have wanted to set up a dirted tank for a while now. For optimal Plant Growth, for budget aquarists, and just the something new factor, I decided to try it!
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Have you done a dirted tank before? If so, what did you learn?
Your CAP should be well in place and once there, do not muck it up, literally and figuratively, by being too enthusiastic. Just let it be. I shall be redoing my tank after 15 days, 30th March, after having given enough time to the new plants to set up in this new environment. Almost all the plants I got this time were grown underwater, unlike the 1/4 to 1/10 cheaper terrestrially grown ones, available online in India. I visited about 15 shops in 3 cities and collected the best amongst the displayed ones and shipped them to myself, 2500 kilometres away where two friend's kids opened the packages and submerged the plants in my emergency aquarium. They ALL survived and are thriving, now.
Well I tried it with a tank without any filter or any aquarium accessories and I plant all of the aquatic plant that I have and it actually worked like there was a filter and it gave my fish a feeling that they are in the wild and to I'm not gonna lie the water doesn't stink that bad and it's almost a cycle because mosquitos lay eggs on my dirted aquarium that serves as a food for my fishes
I have a 1gal dirted fish bowl with cherry shrimp and 1 male endler. It's been going great for the last year+. Little to no algae ever.
Do NOT use topsoil that has mulch in it. It dyes your water black. Dealing with this issue right now 😅
The organic soil I used (Kellogg) also doesn’t say on the bag that it’s mostly mulch. Terrible product
Nicely done. Welcome to the movement.
When I was in the 2nd grade I got an aquarium. The pet shop keeper told me to go dig some dirt from the backyard and put it in there then add sand or gravel. I did. I had that tank well into my late teens and only remember changing the filter floss. Never did water changes and only topped off with water when it was low. My fish we're happy.
Was it Father Fish?
@@jeffsers624 LOL, I don't think so, unless he owned at pet shop in Texas at one point. I guess that's how they did it back then. I took marine biology in high-school and the lab had many dirted tanks in there also. Not all of them though.😊
I love my dirted tank! Been running for 3 years and plants are still thriving! Moving plants is a pain though.
Yes. Takes 2-3 days to clear up the muddy cloud.
@@rahuldoes can you put fish into the tank before the dirt clears up?
@@ferragamo4570, why not? I always put mine back after replanting and they are just fine. All the best.
Doesnit smell?
I'm a dirted tank convert. I use potting compost with some added nutrients. Sand cap (pool filter sand is best) to at least 2". You need to prevent the soil get into the water. Plant growth is amazing.
I won't call my self expert but I have been doing dirt tank for 22 years. I live in a jungle so everything is free and full of nutrients.
instead of 1/2" cap try 1 or 1.5" cap next time- zero tannins in my dirt tank day 1 onward.
if you do have to move plants simply drain tank- move plant- refill tank with water- less cloudiness.
it's all good- some organic soil still need potassium, iron added to it. I tried sprinkling Osomocote to dirt then cap & plant- better results in growth.
In some dirted tanks you might first see brown diatom algae then green algae then hair or string algae later.
it's normal- don't stress or end tank- just relax- rub off brown algae from any leaf & wait it out. once plants are rooted in 2-4 weeks the plants will out compete the algae.
Good Luck
This is more helpful than the countless videos I've been watching
I love dirted tanks because they are just great at building and holding nutrients for root feeding plants. I usually tell people to only do dirted tanks if you plan to set it and forget it. I am the type that likes to plant mine overtime and see how it looks as I add each plant, and deciding here and there to move things around. If you do that to often the dirt leeches into the aquarium and it can look quite unappealing.
Dustins fishtanks and the water box are two good resource channels for the dirted life.
I have definitely looked around Dustin's channel, but haven't checked out the water box. I'll check them out! Thanks!
Nice video, thanks for the information. I just setup my first dirted tank in a 10 gallon also. I liked the idea of only risking a small tank. I didn't use the lava rock (cool idea) but I did use some local clay, soil and sand cap. I'm 25 days into it. Everything is going really well. No significant algae and lots of new plant growth. I used plants harvested from my other tanks so no real melt as they were acclimated to my water conditions. I have seen 1ppm Ammonia and then 1ppm Nitrite. Currently have two male guppy culls and some pond snails in the tank to add some bio load. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.
kool, i did a similar setup a few months ago, the dirt took so long to settle. Its going o.k now. Thanks for this share friend
And. when it settles, most of it is on the leaves. Then, clean the leaves (with a paint brush) and some of the dirt again rises up. Then, wait for THAT to settle. However, worth every waiting hour!
@@rahuldoes I APPRECIATE THAT SUGGESTION. NUFF RESPECT
Go Father Fish method. 1 inch dirt. 2 inch sand cap.
CONGRATULATIONS on 6K 💪
I’m one month into my first dirted tank.
Local, screened for size, solarized, rinsed,(repeat) volcanic sand below and above my own vermicompost and a few supplements, including red potter’s clay.
I’ve done a few large water changes and planted bacopa, Cabomba and floating hornwort.
C02 and high light.
75-78 degrees F.
No detectable nitrate or nitrite. (Used established filter media)
Ph is around 6.5-7.
I have mystery snails and common pond snails with two small bristlenosed Plecos.
Tank is a 29 gallon.
Problem is cloudy water and a light coat of brown algae on all plants.
I’ve been dozing a small amount of easy iron from aquarium co-op and Thrive S from Niloc G.
The plants are all growing, but it seems that the brown algae is gaining the upper hand.
Lights are on for 13 hrs.
CO2 for 9.
Congratulations on 6 thousand subscribers! 🥳🥳🥳
Thank you!
Bay Area Aquatics you’re very welcome! Hope the new year brings success to ur channel, and brings you happiness and prosperity!
I just about yelled when I saw that the 'organic' soil you used had white vermiculite in it! It has a tendency to float, and will scratch any glass it comes in contact with. It is incredibly difficult to get it out of the system too.
Thanks for sharing. Your lava rock idea is gold. I'll be trying that soon.
Hmm I might attempt this. Been slowly breaking into planting a little bit. Wanting to try a carpet of something.
Would be a great setup for a carpet!
You have those excess tannins because you didn't sieve out the larger particles[wood shaving] from the soil.
Yup. I’ve made that same mistake before. 😉
Got inspired by the father fish videos and decided to go for the dirt tank. It's a really slow process and, had to solve white cloudy water then brown water by changing water and still the plants are struggling to take root(moulting)Hope I will discover the zero water change tank soon.
Decided to try out doing more live plants this year.... I think I'm gonna have to do this with at least one tank... Maybe I can sneak a small 2.5 with this setup for some Least Killifish.
YAY AREAAAAAA. just set up my first dirted tank last night. But of jungle Val. Pogostemons stallatus octopus an amazkn sword. Thinking about addimg some crypts
If you want to try a way better method that has basically zero down sides you should try my method.
I use fox farm ocean forest soil (bc it has zero water soluble nitrogen & has aquatic based nutrients) mixed with sand (play or pool filter), some crushed coral and some clay based medium (I use flourite black sand mostly but also the red or any other ones for some cec value to capture excess nutrients, but you could also use other things like a little carbon but you would still want some clay).
If you do it this way you can control how much loose soil there is so that you don't have any problems with breaking the cap, which I do frequently with zero repercussions, and control how long it can last by how much soil is in there. (Big tip is that you don't actually need much nutrients as there are a ton of nutrients in soil that can last forever unless it is super densely planted.)
The best part for me is that when I need to tear the tank down I just mix the cap sand with the soil mix and store it or use it again and then I can add more soil if I want more in it. Oh, and I never do water changes so with this method you may not need to change water even at first setup. I add fish as soon as I fill it.
1 big tip with dirted tanks I don't ever hear is that if you use one that leeches ammonia or nitrogens you can soak it in a separate container and pour off the water and resoak it till there is no more leeching, which is what I did before I started using the Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil. Hope this helps you or someone.
Great ideas!
Yes I use this soil (happy frog) in my container garden. I was really concerned about what type of dirt to use in my first planted aquarium. After reading you comment I am no longer concerned. I will get a bag of ocean forest and use that. Thanks for your comment. Oh I’m setting up a 150g soon
@@KerryScottCooke7402 that's really cool, the bigger the better lol. Good luck with it! Remember you never need much actual soil, the most important thing is building a living soil, that will help plants grow the best.
oh nice I need to work on my dirted tank next!! The background looks awesome
Bay area native here. 😉 Very interested to see more videos.
Ur a beast I live in Modesto you live in the Bay Area so you probably know where that is I go to SF super often at least 3 times a month have a good day!
How do you not show which soil you bought.. brand, size ect.
Very good video. I advice you to follow Father fish. He has more than 50 years experience in keeping fishes. You’ll learn a lot from him.
I have two 10g dirted tanks, with no algae issues at one month to date.
Great video, I want to set up a dirted tank. Congrats on 6k as well!
Also I know I have asked this before what buce or crypt is the dark one in the front?
On the left, it's Buce Catherine! On the right, it's a Crypt Wendeti red.
Great video bro, looks great...The Red Ludwigia I bought from the SAS (that you brought) still looks great in my CPD tank..
It's colored up a ton since this video was filmed. Super red now!
I love my dirted tanks! And no they aren’t for profit breeding tanks or plant tanks. They are your forever tank. And amazingly beautiful and ultimately require. I water changes. Walstad method that is....
Did you take out the water and put that water back in?
Can a hob filter still be used all of the time? Is it necessary? Is a sponge filter good enough? For a 20gal long. Thx
Did your plants have trouble rooting in pool filter sand? I cant grow val in it
12 comment I have a Dirted tank and it is Doing good hope yours works to
I had always wondered the ammonia comes from new tank syndrome? I’ve been doing dirted for years. About to cap a 40b with black diamond.
What kind of dirt do you use?
hey Michael. I liked the vid very much ! Quick question. What plants you have on your very nice tank behind you ?
This is the tank highlight! :) ua-cam.com/video/Yd9sb5oWXbI/v-deo.html
I'll watch it now. Thanks for answering so fast !
What about plants that’s has been coming from potted plants? I have some soil took out from the potted plants that i kept for a couple of months, do you think it is safer to use?
Looks like expensive and lot of work for a busy entrepreneur like myself to be in the planted tank realm...but ty for sharing...I'll go to the conventional route instead of cheap options that will lead me spending more atgb...
It all depends on the plants. I stay 100% low tech. Being Self Employed myself, and covering Breaking News, I don't have the time for all the fancy news and such haha. I definitely love my plants!
@@DilettanteCulture what are your thoughts if my plants are the following... Anubias, Amazon Sword, small and medium sized duckweeds and substrate moss?...
I'm watching this because aquasoil is so expensive for me 🤣
what you feed to the red scarlet badis?
What kind of dirt did you use
Do you vacuum it like gravel and sand or do you just let things decompose in there? I planning on setting up my first planted tank.
let it do its own think
watch father fish he big on this
I have one set up for about 3 years and have never needed to vacuum it!
Just make sure you really cap the dirt. 1/2” of dirt use 1.5” sand or pebble cap.
Water can be crystal clear starting Day 1 if properly capped right & add a plate on substrate & add first few inches ever so slowly to not disturb anything.
Good luck.
Hello! I’ve seen a few of your comments and I have a question! I’ve been told that I have to put my dirt/soil in a bucket with a couple inches of water and do Dailey water changes on it for like 4 days. Do I have to do that or can I do like he did here in the video and put it straight in the tank? If I put a thick enough cap, like you suggested, can my fish go back in the same day?
Sierra Padilla
it’s not an exact science.
In a perfect world one would just have a fish less planted tank for at least 30-45 days.
let the plants root properly then
start to get past any melting stages & start to grow healthy leaves.
Reason I’d say try going fish less at first is there’s going to be a lot of organics in the tank due to dirt substrate- water will turn brownish color. you’ll want to do large 90-100% water changes.
Again, as long as you have well established bio media from a filter that’s kept fish for sometime. If that’s the case then you could add fish sooner.
any sudden ammonia spikes should be controlled with establish filter media.
if it’s a new filter with no established media & tank hasn’t been properly cycled- that’s not good.
either way- Good luck mate!
How do I make my soil water clear
Did you make that background?
Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. I don’t mind dirted. Just know it’s a lot more work. I think if you go in knowing that or don’t mind doing more maintenance, you will probably be in the pro camp.
I've found it's only more work upfront then takes care of itself.
Think you need you ton of plants in order to filter the water properly
What organic soil did you use?
It looks like it's the miracle grow organic
How not to get ammonia spike and algae if you have dirted tank: Add more plants and moss. :D
Trust me all of that will work perfectly BUT some plants could kill other plants soo do your homework about plants before choosing them for the tank.
Do you trim your eyebrows???
It’s brown
This guy tried to date a guy once just to see if he liked it