2. How to set up a Dirted Tank (Capping)

[@steventovar946]

Finally!! New video!

[@cloud9aquariums]

One of many more to come! I'm backkkkkk

[@MASSAquariums]

Looking forward to the next update and planting. Hope you check out my channel. I have my 75 planted and dieted thanks to you and a couple low tech tanks and my Mbuna tank cycling. Thanks brothah

[@jessicaryan9887]

I'm doing a planted tank, not my first try, but have done alot more research since first failure. Planning on using MCOPS as my dirt and going to mix it with All-Clay kitty litter (to give it weight and CFC). 1) What ratio should I mix the clay to dirt? I really don't want to cap it with anything, because I want to grow a carpet of plants on some mesh and let that takeover as eventual cap. Any additional thoughts or recommendations?

[@AcidHatchet]

what do i do, now that i have excess nutrients in my water column? my water is a transparent tea color, like you said. i may not have enough gravel bc i can see soil in between the small and medium sized gravels. i have a couple of small pothos ivy in my filter and plan on getting more actual aquatic plants. i just don't want to put a bunch of chemicals in my tank (even if they do work), i'd like to stay on the natural side of things as much as possible. also, my tank is 20 long. i will be putting beginner tropical fish for my sons, 3 & 6. Thx evan

[@newenglandfishkeeper2105]

couple ? are those acrylic black rocks on the cap..thats all i can seem to find for black gravel and want to cap with real rock gravel. and does the organic potting mix have the white lime stone that most potting mix have or do you recommend the miricle grow organic choice soil or does that 1 have manure in it. the last time i did dirt i used some with 2 many phosphates and i have a high power light and i caped with gravel and i still had a alge bloom i wanna try again with a better uv and the right substrate tx

[@Chemeleon15]

Chad White when you say "white Limestone" did you mean perlite/vermiculite?

[@bumblesby]

Do you take the soil right out of the bag and put it in the tank? I have used cheap generic top soil with no additives before and worked pretty well. I have seen where people will condition their soil before putting in their tank. They do soak and dry cycles for a couple weeks to season it. Also it should be sifted through a screen to get rid of any wood chips and rocks. The wood chips cause the tannins as they break down in the soil. If you have too much tannin it can stain the glass and is very difficult to get off - yes it has happened to me :) However, I will say that was in my no water change days and since you do large water changes frequently it may not be an issue.

[@HigherPlanes]

Do you use regular potting soil for the drit?

[@cloud9aquariums]

Nope I use an organic potting soil. It doesn't have any fertilizers which could leach into the soil and may harm fish. It's easily found at most large home improvement stores or garden centers

[@HigherPlanes]

cloud9aquariums Thanks brother!

[@jhonsel999]

By river pebbles I mean big size gravel

[@ryanharris2415]

Maybe I should do a dirted tank! good time to start producing videos again, i just got multiple tank syndrome and now have 3 tanks, 2 still cycling. One will be a planted, the other will be a Mbuna tank. The 1 tank with livestock is already planted with eco-complete.

[@cloud9aquariums]

Do it! Haha you're doomed! I'm up to 14 but Shhhhh nobody on the channel knows yet

[@ryanharris2415]

cloud9aquariums I've only been doing plants for a month now so dirted might be too soon. Going to stick with eco-complete and easy plants, my first planted tank is still a struggle lol

[@85toyotaSR5]

cloud9aquariums what do you think about using eco complete as a cap. I am going to dirt from that and don't have gravel now.

[@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058]

@@cloud9aquariums I've thought about a Dirted Tank but never got the nerve to do 1 cause of the pros & cons of a Dirted Tank I make my dirt out of oak leaves, no grass or anything else just all oak leaves from a composting barrel will that work in a tank? I do put my goldfish waste water over it every now & then but nothing else, otherwise it's just plain dirt after all the leaves decompose & by this spring I should have enough for my 75 gal.

[@cloud9aquariums]

@@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058 check out some of my new videos! I'm not using dirt anymore. Still a great substrate but it can be messy if you like to rearrange regularly like I do

[@jhonsel999]

Can I cap with river pebbles because that's what I have in the tank and I want to dirt but I don't want to get rid of the gravel because of the nitrogen cycle.

[@cloud9aquariums]

As long as its not so big that the water would flow freely through it and that it would prevent the plants from rooting. If that were the case id mix it will some smaller stuff

[@jasperatymrochwite7275]

do you suggest capping with floramax?

[@williamglass1619]

what kind of soil do u use

[@cloud9aquariums]

Miracle grow ORGANIC. Any organic will work though! But it must be organic so it doesn't have any ferts that could leach into the water

[@williamglass1619]

thanks thinking about getting a bigger tank still only got a 10 gallon

[@Bluewater001]

Could u do dirt then clay real thin layer of clay then your gravel or would this trap poisons gases or toxins or something killing the plants? please some one reply

[@samwimoe1620]

+cloud9aquariums youre so handsome, like your video :)

[@cloud9aquariums]

no you!

[@dicelynburkett8632]

UM

[@cloud9aquariums]

Just a couple two tree ums

[@jacquelinemolloy2977]

i like your videos but i hope you will lessen the uhhhmm. it is a bit annoying (constructive critism)

[@cloud9aquariums]

I feel this 100% my new content is much better go look!

[@JungleScene]

you would not have nearly as much risk of having air in your soil if you pre-soaked it before capping it. its way easier to cap a thick mud than dry dirt.