Dirt For Substrate

[carsona246]

the problem with regular dirt is that it can have unknown toxins in it that will rot in your substrate. Black flourite is the way to go, I have it in my ten gal planted tank and its pretty sweet, dr foster's has it and they have one flat rate for shipping so you can buy multiple bags for the price of shipping one

 

[Cybercyde]

I had a beautifully planted tank that I used Miracle Grow potting soil in. You have to put gravel on top of it. It will still cloud the water for awhile(couple of weeks,water changes help speed up the leaching and clear the water),

I set up a 10 gallon with a high % humus "topsoil" capped with pea gravel. It yellowed for a few days, but heavy water changes in a room temp 10g aren't exactly hard. It went clear in under a week.

Currently clear, and anacharis is fighting to choke out the algea. xD The Java Ferns are sprouting, but hair algea is holding them back a bit. (2 x 40watt shop light sitting directly on top for 12hrs a day with a flow-choked 150gph filter.) I'm waiting for the ~3 month "Your tank will crash", but so far, it's doing quite well.

Sidenote - Danios seem desperate to shoal. Add corys. The danios spent a week+ to date schooling at the bottom rooting through the gravel with the corys.

 

[Cybercyde]

but my problem is...
i can't find, black gravel, black sand or anything like that in my area, i can get rainbow gravel, but not black -_-

No worries. Check for a local contractor that does custom concrete pool work. Anyone that deals in custom concrete should have access to a multitude of aggregate mixes/sands.

Make sure to ask what it's made of / soak and rinse it well.

Assuming you find a decent supplier, a case of beer might just handle a 5 gallon bucket walking away.