Convert ANY Aquarium to a Dirted Tank! NO Commitment

Well hello there!
I just could not wait to share this tip with you thanks to Scott at the Greenwater Swap!
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As always, thank you for stopping by!
Joanna :-)
#dirtedtank #nanotank #aquarium

[@davidspears8108]

If you decide to commit further to a dirted tank - put the compost into zip up filter media bags, and then cap with sand. The roots can get into the bags but they really help keep the compost in place

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

I like to learn & listen to comments. I am always learning at 75. I like your channel. Easy to watch. Great host. Very well explained. A great husband and wife team caring for fish & teaching others.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I’m 73…ditto…really enjoy this channel.

[@somethingsfishy7662]

I have a beautiful dirted tank I started last month. It’s been amazing! Zero algae! Happy fish and shrimp! I wish I would have tried this when I first started fish keeping three years ago. Be patient when you fill it with water. Buy lots of plants. Be smart about your lighting. You will be amazed at the growth in no time at all.

[@Inked_Badger]

I started taking ceramics classes two years ago, and there were only so many cups and bowls I could get excited about. I started making items for my aquariums. I have done caves, a volcano that went over an air stone with the bubbles seeping out the sides and the top, and small pots for the plants. Some of the pots and caves I made slashes on the sides that I use for epiphytes. I make sure to use food safe glazes and sand all the edges to remove any sharp edges. The betta loves playing in them and the hillstream loach claimed one. I have used gravel as a cap instead of sand, but it has worked great for me! The caves with the slashes on them have the plants thriving on top and you can see the roots hanging down the inside. Looks really nice.

[@volcanixthanksyoufortheviewz]

Ive had dirted tanks from the beginning. One thing I'll note is that I used organic soil with no perlite or artificial ferts. I move my plants around alot too, but i have a 2" sand cap and if you just bob the plant up and down, like you're jig fishin, the sand keeps the dirt from floating up!

[@DashDrones]

Good old Father Fish..

[@nancylee189]

I too have done this the past year. One little tip I would suggest is to add some larger pebbles or rocks on top of the sand. My little corydoras and fish were able to uproot the plants when shuffling around and grazing in the pots. So frustrating after they had been planted for a couple of weeks! Thanks for your knowledge!!!!

[@EZettler-de9tf]

Love my different dirted tanks two different styles of dirting done but may try this method in a separate tank. Dirt in media bag works wonders to keep things clean.

[@darlenedonkin7077]

This is a great idea. I replanted some crypts into pots today since they were not doing anything in my sand substrate. You always have great tips and ideas. Thank you so much.

[@wendymcdowell2341]

Thanks, Joanna! I can’t wait to use this tip! Being in the Denver, CO metro area, your timing is perfect, all our garden places have put all the plants out. Awesome idea! And I’ll catch you next week! ❤❤❤

[@donalee13]

That is a great idea for dipping your toe into dirted tanks. I've done a few and love them. I put the soil in media bags. Also a great way to keep the soil contained when moving plants around. And yes, the roots can get thru the mesh the bags are made of.

[@kdr1048]

This works really well in outdoor summer tubs as well!

[@Scumfrog74]

Don’t fear the dirt. Lol a dirt tank just takes a little commitment like a good relationship. With a good marriage once you get it right and it’s good you don’t wanna mess with it.🤣

[@johnjwedrall4290]

I can hardly wait till next week ❤

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

I like to use those little pots to make mini bonsai trees. Great idea for the aquarium.

[@rebeccagaree635]

New to the hobby as of Nov 23 I started out with the planted sand tanks.they are absolutely thriving and wouldn’t do it any other way👍

[@PastorCheryl]

Love that idea and will definitely give it a try. Thank you.

[@AB-Aquariums]

Fantastic idea, I think I'll try this!

[@cathyhendrix7552]

What an awesome and exciting tip!!! I can't wait to try it. Thank you Joanna for an amazing 💡 idea.

[@omaeve]

I seen a lot of people who buy pond soil because it doesn’t have wood chips in it and other things like some of your other brands of potting soil that you buy

[@sghettinona]

Thanks! That makes sense. Good tip. 🌞

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Had hoped to set up a small dirted tank next to my bed, but my health hasn’t cooperated. Still intend to do it! Your videos are great. Saved this one. Cookie sheets are great potting trays as well.

[@bonniegoodwin5653]

Ugh planted tanks with dirt are the bane of my existence. This is a very good idea, plus easy to move plant to a different tank if you want. I’m looking forward to your telling us how to plant in aqua soil. I have no luck getting my stuff to stay in that! So frustrating.

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

Nice! I have a whole tank with the plants in glass containers which sit on sand just so I could trellis the layout. Looks great. It's a genus only tank, Cryptocoryne! I love them, there are so many to choose from and with such awesome variety.

[@rockyandmiles9889]

Whaaat?? That’s so darn cute! I know what I’m trying next! Maybe this will work better for my stem plants? I can’t keep stem plants from melting to oblivion to save my life 😅

[@38darnell]

Great Idea can't wait to try it

[@Scaperoot79]

On my way to explain to my wife why I need tiny pots, soil, sand, and more plants!🤣

[@DashDrones]

All my tanks are dirted. Nature manages them all!!👍

[@brassavola74]

I am definitely going to try this

[@cherylbelott]

Great tip about burying the pot! I am going to try that in my old gravel tank. I’ve enjoyed having my dirted tank, but I don’t move the plants in there as much. Little plants aren’t too difficult, but I have a huge red rose amazon sword plant that isn’t going anywhere. 🤣 Have fun at Aquashella!

[@thesmallscape]

I always forget that you gave a dirted tank! Nice to know you can pull out small little ones without much trouble! Thanks so much, looking forward to meeting Noel and seeing 2nd floor again 😊 Enjoy your upcoming weekend! 😌

[@Brensters63]

Wow! Thanks Joanna! ❤

[@noelbrucker135]

Such a cool idea! I can’t wait to try this! Also can’t wait to hopefully see you guys at Aquashella in a couple of days!

[@jennifermartin506]

I have two dirted tanks with a sand cap. The tanks are amazing. I learned it from FF.

[@sghettinona]

Thanks 😊 definitely going to try tissues cultures this way!!

[@Vincent-kx9ze]

Very interesting !

[@James_NatureAquatics]

This is a great tip if you wanted to put dirt into the tank and move it. Just my experience with a lot of plants pots stunt their growth. You know me I’m a die hard aquatic soil person. Dirt is not only a mess issue for me however. It’s the super thick substrate layer you need I don’t like. Especially against the front glass. It’s also the wide swings of nutrient levels in potting soil as well as the amount of nutrients in it. It tends to pack more while wet too and can have the anoxic issues. One reason aquasoil was made to mimick akadama soil. It lets water flor through it easily. Plus other benefits. Some aquasoils can have the inconsistencies in nutrient levels as well. So why I generally always stick with Tropica soil. Plus when I break a tank down I can reuse the soil many times before it has to be tossed. At that point great to throw in the flower beds and help them grow 😅

[@audrameyer9558]

Wonderful idea!! I have some tanks with plants in pots like this.....but NOT buried in the substrate like that. LOVE it!!!

[@naegwut]

Cool footage

[@LadeanaWhite]

Hi Joanna! I’ve been doing this for anything from established tanks to quarantine tanks to tubs. Whether to root cuttings, establish and monitor new to me plants before committing, or giving new fish in quarantine a little more natural setting. I am a houseplant lover, gardener and all my asst sized tanks have dirted/sand capped/live plants. Seemed like a likely transition from my background with other plants to carry thru into my tanks. Clay pots are my go to. Love your streams😊☮❤🐠🦐🪴

[@angelas4681]

I tried a dirt tank once, using Eco Complete capped with Turface. Once the substrate settled, I could never disturb it without creating a mess. I'm interested in seeing how this method compares. Honestly, I'm surprised there aren't aquarium-themed clay pots...like short and wide...on Etsy.

[@user-cr4or6bx5g]

Great video. I use dirt from my backyard with black sand to cap it. Ever since I switched my ten gallon to dirt, my corkscrew Val has went from dark green to a maroon red. Idk why, and it’s not dying as the strands are extremely thick and healthy looking and it’s shooting runners like crazy that are more red than the mother plant. At first I was concerned, but it pairs really well with the dwarf Lillies. My only complaint is my female crown tail is dark red and she camouflages too well next to all the red, lol. Dirt is unmatched!

[@mickeysr5817]

Great video 😊 u get a wrench lol

[@EZettler-de9tf]

Terra Cotta also adds tanins to the water

[@toddbigeasy]

I'm gonnaa try one in my 110 I'msetting up for rainbows next week. thanks

[@ralphreinhardt6020]

What are these "root tabs" that you speak of ? And, where can I get some/them ? Thank you.

[@doxiediane6274]

Great idea Joanna. I assume we must use a soil that has no fertilizer in it? Might be hard to find since it seems that’s all big box stores have.

[@dancurran8977]

I have Val in pots with gravel substrate and root tabs and they grow like weeds, which is what they are. I will try your tip next time because I am curious about dirted tanks but like you I am chicken.

[@razinfishes1918]

Pretty cool idea. I'm actually in the process of doing a fully dirted 20 tall. Never done one but I see so many folks have great success now it's my turn haha

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

I may try this and see what happens. 😊(Gina)

[@denisekoenig9479]

Can i use little riny glass jars instead of terra cotta

[@omaeve]

I usually little miniature terra-cotta pots when I start a new tank to plant cuttings from my other tanks for propagation but not teeny tiny ones I use like the 3 inch ones and completely cover the tank then I take my male guppies only and put them in the tank because I’m always trying to sort the male guppies out. But I feel the entire tank with just little terra-cotta on a bare bottom tank think of it is hydroponics in a 10 gallon tank for starting plants. The guppies will even swim down between the terracotta pots. So this year, I have the idea of putting in the baby fry thinking that if they swim down below, that might help them from being eaten by training, each generation acclimate without adults in the small tanks, the first month or two months of their life.

[@crystalgrelak]

Your hair looks so nice. And do you have a tan? Really you look amazing. I have a tank with organic soil capped with sand…. I put plants in they don’t get removed even my anubias has roots down into the soil.

[@MissChelle]

I make my own fake hollow rocks out of polymer clay and do the same thing 😊🇦🇺❤️

[@adamnagy4544]

or just put the dirt in a mesh bag before covering with sand :)))))))))))))))))))

[@delbo3115]

Great channel, very informative as well as entertaining. For further information on dirt bottomed tanks and using pots as an alternative, see Diana Walstad’s Ecology Of The Planted Aquarium, 1999. Scientific, yet practical.

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Ever considered mesh bags

[@wheelbite14]

I'd tell folks to wet that sand down first, bc some may float if you put a dry cup of dirt with sand directly into the tank. Love this idea, though. I stopped doing fully dirted tanks bc they are a pain imo. Dirt always gets me green hair algae, and they're a disgusting, smelly mess to tear down.

[@michaelboulos3272]

My sister in Christ, use scissors and tweezers 😂😂😂

[@user-rk3ue9wz8l]

I tried this method a few times in the past with water wisteria, ludwigia repens and val with no success, I don't know why it just doesn't work out for me.

[@jefferybruce2332]

Great idea BUT you didn't show the growth results?

[@thesmallscape]

Nope, not in this video. It will be in the update. This video’s purpose was to show anyone can TRY a dirted tank. 😌

[@jamesparadigm]

💚💚💙💙

[@VaAquarist]

Carib sea is the best substrate... ask KG tropical lol

[@realhusky]

You’re welcome, goodbye

[@VaAquarist]

FATHER FISH METHOD?!?

[@ericdonner7199]

If you want to learn how to do a dirted tank you can watch father fish video's. I have a 20 long dirted tank.

[@vampgaia]

I’m going to try this in my outdoor tubs. Much cheaper than attempting to cover the entire bottom of three 100 gallon tubs and one 210 gallon galvanized steel tub.