Here we go... it's spreading...

[Honey Badger 1]

actully i have done this myself with soil for aquariums
to quick to judge bro

Judging from the many posts you have on the forum, and the one in this thread, I am not judging too quickly... Bro.

Last time I checked, I was not a bro, but just to be sure, I will go check again now.

[funkman262]

I see where this is going lol.

From my own experience, soil is not easily added to an aquarium. I started my tank with soil topped off with a 1" cap of sand before I even filled the tank up with water and it still wasn't fun to deal with. After not too long of trimming and replanting and moving plants around, my entire sand cap just mixed in with the soil, and then any slight disturbance kicked the soil up into the water column. All it took was a fish swimming too fast above the substrate any my tank became a muddy mess. I would not advice someone to ever simply add soil on top of existing substrate. Besides, soil is best used as a base substrate since that's where the plants would be acquiring its nutrients through the roots, so putting it over inert gravel would be counter-intuitive and quite pointless.

[SomethingIsFishy]

Easy guys! No throwing mud at each other allowed in my thread! I won't be using dirt as a substrate in this tank so that argument belongs some where else... Funkman posted as I was typing this with some good advice on why dirt is a bad choice for this tank and where I want to go with it. Let's leave it at that and move on...

[Goes to 11!]

I see where this is going lol.

From my own experience, soil is not easily added to an aquarium. I started my tank with soil topped off with a 1" cap of sand before I even filled the tank up with water and it still wasn't fun to deal with. After not too long of trimming and replanting and moving plants around, my entire sand cap just mixed in with the soil, and then any slight disturbance kicked the soil up into the water column. All it took was a fish swimming too fast above the substrate any my tank became a muddy mess. I would not advice someone to ever simply add soil on top of existing substrate. Besides, soil is best used as a base substrate since that's where the plants would be acquiring its nutrients through the roots, so putting it over inert gravel would be counter-intuitive and quite pointless.

Yup, Mud puddle.

[SomethingIsFishy]

Here's a "before" shot. The blurry fish in that pic are zebra danios who have been rehomed because (a) they are too active for a 10 gal tank and (b) they were stressing my gourami.

Will upload more pics soon...

[SomethingIsFishy]

Floaters added, plastic plants still in there...

All fake plants out except for the ones that are part of the fake driftwood and java fern in.

Current full shot with water sprite added.

[Honey Badger 1]

Well done, that is a nice looking tank.

[SomethingIsFishy]

Thanks! It's not done yet though... watch for updates...

[Hardy85]

Do you plan to add any other fish to it? Or just sticking with the one DG

[ddavis1979]

That is a very nice tank!

Are you still planning and doing shrimps? If so what kind are you going with.

I have recently be fascinated with the Yellow Neon Shrimp, Blue Pearl Shrimp, and Orange Sakura Shrimp.

I have had huge success with low tech semi-planted tank. I have a 55-gal with 1 bag is flourite substrate, with some regular aquarium gravel ontop. I use a 48" 6700K bulb and a 48" ColorMax Bulb about 10-12 hours a day. I have minimal trace algae that is quickly eaten my snails, and algea eaters. I vacuum the substrate once every 10-14 days and I dont vacuum too close to the plants. The fish waste feeds them nicely and they are growing very nicely.

Good luck sir, and i want to see shrimp!

**on a side note, I think the term clown puke does infer a negative opinion, I just happen to agree with that opinion.

** momma1 - can I call you "bra"? :)

You would have to do some serious work and research on your soil in order to avoid a mud pit. I dont think its worth it.