I want to use dirt/mud... hmmm

[Retuks]

i think i want to use mud as my substrate but i have no clue where to get it from thats clean enough or if they even sell dirt meant for aquariums.

i live in hawaii so its abundant outside but also full of bacteria and debris. and when i obtain it, how will i install it without gassing my fish?

 

[Red tail catking]

To be honest with you haven't heard of anyone using mud as a substrate, its probably most likely because its a pain when you do a water change. Also when it gets stured up it can really cloud up a tank and also get sucked into your filter and cause it to plug up or possibly even break it. In the wild mud works because everythings not confined in a glass box with many mechanical devices keeping it sustainable for life.

I suggest you just use the common sand, or gravel, or just leave the tank bare

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

The current from your filtration will never let it settle. If thats the look you are after, then get some brownish reptile sand and then put some gravel in spots on top of it. That will give you a creek bottom effect.

 

[Retuks]

The current from your filtration will never let it settle. If thats the look you are after, then get some brownish reptile sand and then put some gravel in spots on top of it. That will give you a creek bottom effect.

sounds good to me. my lfs doesnt sell reptile sand. i suppose then i will use some sort of sand. is there danger in placing sand straight from the bag/beach into my FW aquarium? im nervous about that. and i cant think of a way to wash sand and get rid of all the salt.

 

[Deaths Sting]

all i can think of is a toilet..

 

[Retuks]

all i can think of is a toilet..

huh. i wish there was a way to mark for spam if thats what ur doing.

 

[Knowdafish]

i think i want to use mud as my substrate but i have no clue where to get it from thats clean enough or if they even sell dirt meant for aquariums.

i live in hawaii so its abundant outside but also full of bacteria and debris. and when i obtain it, how will i install it without gassing my fish?

Why do you want to use that???

 

[Retuks]

Why do you want to use that???

it was just a thought... well reasons to use it would be cause thats what most fish swim over in the wild, dirt comes with natural "crap eating bacteria" and lots of it, my O'opu can burrow without scratching himself, because nobodies done it.

but i already discussed further in the thread that sand might be a better option. but idno how to eliminate all the salt from it, imean you cant sift it because the sand goes through... and you cant boil it because salt does not rise or remove itself with tempature...

 

[hailmike]

go to a home depot/lowes and buy play sand then sift it in a bucket with water until the water you pour out runs clear.

 

[Rivermud]

Check with the planted tank people.. there are a few that can lead you in the right direction.