Using potting soil...

[ehh]

So I'm gonna try to plant my ten gallon (again). And I'm goingg to try using potting soil this time. I' plan on just putting Java ferns in it for now.
Any advice or helpful tips would be awesome.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I've heard of lots of people doing this with success. You have to buy organic soil that doesn't have fertilizers (nitrogen) in it.

I bought a bag of organic soil and to my dismay it was like half wood pulp and floated in my tank. I took it all out and replaced it with plant substrate from petsmart. Worth the extra $10 to spend on a bag of planted substrate for a 10 gallon tank IMO.

 

[ehh]

I've heard of lots of people doing this with success. You have to buy organic soil that doesn't have fertilizers (nitrogen) in it.

I bought a bag of organic soil and to my dismay it was like half wood pulp and floated in my tank. I took it all out and replaced it with plant substrate from petsmart. Worth the extra $10 to spend on a bag of planted substrate for a 10 gallon tank IMO.

i bought organic potting soil. ive done some reading on it so i good idea of what to expect but maybe people have some pointers that other sites have left out.

btw, do you have a physics degree?

 

[PhysicsDude]

Not much to lose by trying it. The potting soil I bought was only like $5 and was probably enough for a 20g tank.

I double majored in physics and electrical engineering. I work mostly in the engineering side, but I really enjoy physics.

 

[ehh]

The bag I bought is way more than what I'll need for the ten gallon, that's for sure.

That's awesome. I know a few people that are double majoring in physics and some engineering right now. I'm 8 or 9 classes from finishing my physics degree.

 

[HungDang]

I use organic top soil, lava sand, cushion sand and compost mix soil. The compost mix soil that I find com in cow manure or swine manure, the cow manure is the one that safe to use just need to dry them out to release the smell. There is also slow release granule aquatic fertilizer that can be put in the bottom of the tank before putting the soil on top and will make your plants grow ridiculously fast, but I don't think any one would do that lol.