I ran a dirted tank for almost a year as an experiment, but I never trusted it with fish or shrimp. The only inhabitants were the invertebrates that came in on the plants. The plants didn't grow as quickly as I wanted and the water was like a swamp for months, then suddenly cleared up. It looked ok after that and had a pleasant smell, like a lake in summer. One thing I didn't like was how hard the water was. Minerals were always leaching from the soil into the water. Can't remember why I took it down, but I probably needed the tank for something.
If I did it again I'd start with lots and lots of emergent riparian plants and let them dig their roots in deep before I added any fish.
If I did it again I'd start with lots and lots of emergent riparian plants and let them dig their roots in deep before I added any fish.
