Buying Soil Substrate Guide for a Planted Tank

[@torilarue9249]

I've referred to this video several times while shopping ... thanks for the very useful information

[@josemontalvo4532]

I enjoyed watching! Thank you for sharing! Three years later, I watched it again, and I still enjoyed watching. Thank you once again.

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks for watching!

[@Easey421]

Only recently discovered your older vids upon my first serious planted tank endeavor. So I never had time to miss you, but I sure am glad you are putting out new content. Keep it up my man!

[@TheWaterBox]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching :)

[@Anonymous-aussie]

awesome and informative for people chasin dirt in other countries also.. i struggled to work out which dirt i should get here in aus coz nothin i see on youtube is sold here... keep it up... u have a new fan here 😊

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks man! I hope this video helps you shop for soil. One of the reason I made it. It's just easier to teach you what to buy. :)

[@contaco45]

This is exactly what i needed to figure out if the bag of soil i have in the shed was ok or not. Thank you.

[@TheWaterBox]

👍

[@Elemental_Shift]

So glad to see you back!

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks!

[@jefnguyen1406]

Yeah I was getting worried too

[@TheWaterBox]

Na, jsut been busy with other stuff.

[@WesL5031]

Hey, thank you for your guidance! I have a beautiful planted tank using walstad using your advice! Thank you!

[@TheWaterBox]

Yay! I'm glad it worked out! :)

[@baalwadi]

was just thinking of breaking down a 10gal I have right now and doing a dirted tank.. this is great!! thank you!

[@TheWaterBox]

You can do it!

[@baalwadi]

@@TheWaterBox I had a quick question - since the nutrients in the soil are not going to last forever and at the end of it you're supplementing with dozes of fertilizer anyways (and unlike in pots you can't replace the soil either), what's the point between starting with a dirted tank and starting with just regular substrate?

[@TheWaterBox]

@@baalwadi Huge head start with ferts at the roots. And you would plug in root tabs when it runs out usually, not as effective but it about the same with normal substrate at that point. But it should be years before it runs out in the soil. Depends on how dense your planting is throughout the history.

[@baalwadi]

@@TheWaterBox thank you!

[@TheWaterBox]

np!

[@peanut0578]

U need more subs, ur channel is one of the best out there always super informative and easy to follow so thank you!!!😁

[@TheWaterBox]

Glad you think so!

[@giftofthewild6665]

This is amazing info thanks!

[@mrgrey9103]

i always learn something more from your video love from india

[@anthonybrown8158]

Glad too see your back. Enjoy all of your soil videos. I learned more about soil with you then anyone else. Keep up the great work

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks! I'm glad it helps :) And thanks for sticking with me!

[@alexandraghanem-latour5022]

Your videos are the best! If it hadn’t been for your videos on CO2 systems I never would have figured out how they work! Thank you!

[@TheWaterBox]

Great to hear that they help! :) Thanks for watching!

[@Napolitano24]

Super helpful !!! I’ve been using aquarium substrates in all my tanks, fluval strat, Caribsea Eco-Complete all are great but that gets costly when having multiple tanks. I’m currently aqua scaping another 20G long and using an organic soil is the goal this time around! Thanks for the break down of all the components to look out for. I’m currently on my way to Home Depot!!! I just freaking subscribed !!! Letsss goooooooo!,,, Ps: thinking about not going into the office today, I’d rather create an under world escape!!!

[@TheWaterBox]

LOL dude, that's hardcore aquaaddict! lol Good luck buddy!

[@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058]

@@TheWaterBox The video was very interesting thank you for all the info you gave us fish people, could I compost all my oak leaves I get buried in every year & make that my dirt ? & maybe add a bag of organic soil while composting the leaves? It takes about 6 months for the leaves to decompose & around the 3 month stage pour some organic soil to the mix, & being I don't have any sun to help the break down of leaves, I put baseball size rocks in my compost barrel to help decompose everything. (each time I turn it about 10X's every 2 mons)

[@dkbmxr18]

Very informative! Thank you!!

[@TheWaterBox]

Thank you for watching! :)

[@PriscillaMKArt]

Best videos on this platform 👌

[@TheWaterBox]

😘

[@Easey421]

BTW every time you ask, "if that makes sense" in any of your vids, it does. You good fam.

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks man! Glad it does :)

[@faydiangill3077]

Good to see you back! I like your videos. They are very informative and have helped me get better at maintaining my planted aquarium.

[@TheWaterBox]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Glad to see you're back to making videos. Hope all is well with you

[@TheWaterBox]

It's good. just tired and busy lol

[@QueAquatics]

Nice to see you back

[@TheWaterBox]

Tanks!

[@ninorivera5560]

Howbi wish i discovered this channel when i started my planted tank😀..hoping for more helpful content. Thanks

[@TheWaterBox]

Well thanks for watching!

[@rconabudget7530]

hey man! glad to see you back creating. always great content.

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks buddy!

[@TheWaterBox]

MORE TO LEARN ABOUT PLANTED TANKS: ☑️ Beginners Planted Tank Guide: goo.gl/oCujCK ☑️ Aquarium Lighting Guide: bit.ly/2INYuMA ☑️ Aquarium Co2 Guide: bit.ly/2rSteVY ☑️ The Dry Start Method: goo.gl/XC8Rnz ☑️ Using Soil: goo.gl/PxkvK4

[@TheWaterBox]

.

[@Jesse-cd6wc]

Thank you so much for the great advice! i really liked how you went with the direction of this video teaching us how to find good soil for planted aquariums ourselves. I've only been watching you for like 2 days now but i have been binge watching all you content and I'm very inspired to start my first planted aquarium now. Keep up all the good work you do :)

[@TheWaterBox]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching! :) Hope it all helps. :)

[@djneoda1535]

GREAT VIDEO GREAT ADVICE Do you have to prep the soil? Like sifting it? Peace ✌

[@TheWaterBox]

Depends on the soil you get. Some of the soil I use have large stick and bark in it and I have to sift it.

[@vanhammer73]

looking good and healty man, thanks for the break down been having trouble finding potting soil.

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks for watching my friend

[@serpico727]

great video, the ingredients and comparison of brands was cool.

[@TheWaterBox]

Thank you so much 😊

[@qwertyuiopasdfghjkl4403]

I'm using top soil from rice fields here in the Philippines, heat in in the pan till its dry then use a strainer to remove large particles and pebbles works great! Added osmocote later on after about a year.

[@TheWaterBox]

Good to hear!

[@rudussy8989]

So would the kelog native smart be a good starter choice? I’m new to soil tanks and I want what’s best for my fish and of course plants

[@TheWaterBox]

Probably but again, you have to read the labels. For this video, it's meant to teach you to read label and not specifically which brand to get.

[@vb2377]

Welcome back!

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks!

[@julliana2ify]

Thank you so much

[@TheWaterBox]

Any time

[@superunimportantman]

Great video!!

[@TheWaterBox]

ty!

[@yaaadontsay3895]

I was starting a pond with soil and a sand cap. Is kellogs amend soil ok? I have a bunch laying around. And how long does it take to cycle a pond with soil before you can add fish?

[@TheWaterBox]

I'd check the label. As for when you can add fish, you add when the system is finished.

[@ebonybaker5360]

Thank you so much for your video. I'm upgrading from a 2ft to a 4ft tank and never had much success with my plants in the past, they survived but have never thrived. I was also misinformed when setting up my first tank and just used a thin layer of black sand substrate though hence my plants not doing too well. I'm going to go with some soil covered with gravel and then a layer of the black sand on top this time. Any things I should know about actually using the soil in the tank? Things to watch out for or any advice before setting it up?

[@TheWaterBox]

Check out my soil substrate playlist. It have a video on step by step set up and another video that have tips on setting up and after setting up: kzbin.info/aero/PLl7jTu1aWwVZjYtnYtt-euBX70-Td3sWZ

[@ebonybaker5360]

@@TheWaterBox Thank you!

[@TheWaterBox]

yw

[@mudgemudge7042]

I'm at work yet I can't focus because I got hooked watching videos from this channel haha

[@TheWaterBox]

Uh oh! lol

[@jossieannepantila9239]

I'm excited for the upcoming new series

[@TheWaterBox]

Hopefully I can get it done soon! :)

[@flyby183]

You brought up a good point that even some aquasoils have inorganic nutrients added. One of the reasons though I have heard you only want organic soil from Home Depot or Lowe’s is because the others have a wetting agent added that harms plants in some way. Do you know what I’m talking about?

[@TheWaterBox]

The water conservation material in some brands of soil. It's not all of them. Just look at the label. And you can get soil from anywhere. Some organic soils have them, some doesn't. Again, depends on the brand. When we say organic soil, we're talking about soil that made MOSTLY from natural materials and less of anything man-made (such as nitrogen baked into a time release pellet or something like that). Again, it drill down to looking at the label. Most soils are organic, it's just not branded on the name as organic. But it can easily figure it out just by reading the label and ingredients.

[@jesse0M]

What about the miracle grow performance organics soil ?

[@TheWaterBox]

Look at the label! :)

[@TheWaterBox]

I believe I answered you in another reply @Kerala Tiger

[@TheWaterBox]

👍

[@AllenLalu]

Great vids. Question: Have you had any experience with Organic soils containing perlite? Does it float / make a mess? Was looking at Black Gold Natural Organic. Thanks

[@flywithabel]

AllenLalu sift the mix, dump the leftovers in your grass!

[@cristianchan5402]

perlite or vermiculite basicly is porous stone like pumice.... not only the floating though but if you mix it with soil, it will cause abnormal root system in your plants because big decomposing things will block your plant roots growth.. in my sight, if there any big particle area inside your soil, the root will shorten than fine compost... (my case here... big chunk of decompossing wood)... its not always but often happen in terresterial plants... they lack penetrate it and the roots stop grow where the particle there... not even find another growth area... thats why all botanist will prevent gravel particle inside their soil... they will sift it back and re-mineralize with fine dolomite... also... maybe thats the reason why basic aquascaping exist... pumice or any bio-load home always put in the deep bottom of your tank...

[@TheWaterBox]

It useless for us aquarist but it's also harmless other BUT it's light stuff. you might have them all floating up in your tank.

[@titusjoyson]

Hi, thanks for your guidance, I am new to planted tank and like to know what type of substrate or sand to put over organic soil as a layer. Any advise will be appreciated, thanks

[@TheWaterBox]

I normally use pool filter sand.

[@ScreendoorLOVE]

Welcome back Chung!

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks!

[@l0rdcroissant]

this helps with keeping the costs down, thanks

[@TheWaterBox]

Glad it helps

[@Knight636]

Making my first dirted tank this weekend and I would like to know how soon after do i start dosing for my tank.

[@TheWaterBox]

I'd doss trace and potassium. I'd wait on dosing nitrates for a few months

[@Knight636]

@@TheWaterBox Thank you, so glad i thought to ask.

[@TheWaterBox]

np! It's a good question. For dirted tanks, you usually get tons of nitrogen and phosphorous in the beginning leaching into the tank, so you won't dose though at first. Then as it curves down, you can slow start to dose it.

[@Redneckrino]

Thanks man 👍🏼👍🏼

[@TheWaterBox]

No problem 👍Thanks for watching

[@davidcynthiaofficial]

if my organic soil got coco peat and charcoal ingredient,is it any problem for fish tank?

[@TheWaterBox]

How much are we talking? And what kind of charcoal ingredient?

[@timothy_b03]

I found soil with perlite, will that be an issue? Also, its ratio is .30 insoluble nitrogen, .45 phosphate, and .05 k. This phosphate seems significantly higher than your ratios, is this troublesome? It is organic though.

[@TheWaterBox]

Phosphate is a bit high. It'll go away after a cycle though. From what I've hear the perlite should be ok.

[@JunFeril]

Nice that u got Ts. Are u gonna make a video about ur tarantulas?

[@TheWaterBox]

Probably not in the front end videos since it's suppose to be all about aquariums.

[@bravo123345]

The Water Box, Please help! I can't seem to find miracle gro or Kellogs native smart anywhere! I can however find Kellogs planting mix, and it seems really similar in the packaging. My plants came in today and I need to find a soil quick that you recommend before they die, else I'll just have to go with Vigoro but that brand doesn't seem as promising. The only major differences are that the "native smart" brand has iron while the planting mix doesn't, the planting mix also has dehydrated and composted poultry manure, and the planting mix doesn't have ferrous sulfate. I REALLY would love your insight on this! Your channel has been a great help! I think you should make more videos about the world of dirted tanks because, yes there are some youtubers that talk about the topic, but not that many, and the information in their videos isn't as structured. You're channel can help this niche group of aquarium owners.

[@TheWaterBox]

Those brands in the video are not meant to be recommendations. Those are meant to be examples to show you how to read the labels so you can figure out what to buy yourself.

[@skytrooper506]

I put a couple of inches of Miracle-Gro Performance Organics, which is the new version, under the gravel in a 5 gallon tank and a week later the ammonia is off the charts, I mean it's over 9 ppm! It's been over a week, I did a 50 % water change. I'm hoping it levels off or I'll have to tear it down and start over.

[@joesiever4844]

I plan to rescape one of my old tank, but there is one thing that confuse me. Can I put pumice at the base layer before the soil? In order to minimize the chance of getting anaerobic zone in the tank

[@TheWaterBox]

Yes you can. I don't know if it'll change your water parameters though.

[@AquaticJournal]

I have been using Natures Care Organic Soil with great results. Weather they would be better with other dirt is hard to know.

[@TheWaterBox]

It is hard to know. As long as it's got pretty much the same stats as others it should do fine.

[@timothy_b03]

How is it so far?

[@alanriggs3254]

I'm about to start my first planted soil tank and I'm curious what kind of aquarium vacuum do you us to clean with so that it doesn't need up the sand cap?

[@TheWaterBox]

And normal aquarium vac will work, you don't dig the nozzle into the sand. You have to skim the surface. See this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jajNgICjrb2CZrM

[@margheritasreef]

Hey can you recommend soil that is not hard to get or I have to pay through the nose to get. Except for the vigoro, it is difficult to get all the others. What can I use that I can pick up at Home Depot or Amazon. I’m trying to do this on a budget. I watch your videos and have been for some time. I trust any suggestion you can give.

[@TheWaterBox]

No I can't mot recommend anything. I made this video to show you how to read labels so you can get your own soil since brands all vary in locations... etc. Watch the video again.

[@DeletedChannell]

Can I find native smart on Amazon?

[@TheWaterBox]

I don't know. You can try by going on amazon and doing a search for it.

[@DeletedChannell]

@@TheWaterBox my next question is what if I used native smart and then I decided to cap it with florin reo shrimp substrate?

[@TheWaterBox]

I don't know what florin substrate is but it should work if i's a typical planted substrate.

[@PastTheDirtRoad]

Algorithm bump comment: Thought it would be a dirty video and turned out to be very wholesome and organic in nature

[@TheWaterBox]

LOL Dork

[@roboticsbede3421]

How long does potting soil last with a heavily planted tank, high lighting, and CO2? Like really densely planted, with mostly stem plants like rotalas and ludwigias.

[@TheWaterBox]

Couple of years probably. I can't really give you a time. It depends on a huge host of variables as you mentioned as well as the soil you use.

[@roboticsbede3421]

@@TheWaterBox Thanks for replying, then at least how do you know your soil have run out of ferts and you can just use root tabs right？

[@TheWaterBox]

@@roboticsbede3421 You just eye how your plants are doing usually. You should be able to tell once you've done this for a while to know what's going on in your tank. Once ferts run out in the soil, yes, use root tabs.

[@mercygirl317]

new sub here. that was very nice of you to send joe the camera bag. i watched his vid about it and subbed you lol 😎👍

[@TheWaterBox]

Haha thanks Mercy. He's a good guy and is pretty good at the filming stuff. He deserves it.

[@801tank104]

Welcome back

[@TheWaterBox]

ty!

[@erwinthuis2092]

Wel i use filter sand 0.4-0.8mm at the top layer and for nutrients normal garden soil mixed whit some calsium rich sand and clay for iron ,peat for lowering the PH and for micro's and macro's osmoscote NPK 20-10-10 it works 30years fine for me and the plants and its cheap. After 6months i push new osmoscote in the sand whit some iron tabs and it works fine for years in that way in all of my tanks.

[@TheWaterBox]

Nice!

[@suman5492]

Can only vermicompost be used as the base capped with sand? Miracle Gro is not available in India. The potting soil mix available is mostly vermicompost. And bags of vermicompost mixed with cocopeat, epsom salt, neem granules, perlite, vermiculite, cow manure. But there's no percentage of the nutrients in the labels. Are these good?

[@TheWaterBox]

I've never tried vermicompost but from what I heard, it's super rich in organics so it'll extend the cycling of the tank and might leach off tons of ammonia and cause burn to plants so you will need to wait a week or two for it to leach off.

[@amucandlecraft5423]

The black magic, can you mix in some peat moss to soften without losing too many nutrients?

[@TheWaterBox]

You can but remember, it'll soften the water for a while

[@stormyravensteele7771]

You had me at 'tarantulas'!

[@TheWaterBox]

Right on!

[@SuperHooverdam]

What about the soil that’s just soil and earthworm casing?

[@TheWaterBox]

I should work just fine. Some people just use earthworm castings. So mixing the too should work fine.

[@TankTastic]

Finally!

[@TheWaterBox]

Now, I just have to keep it up! lol

[@droy1714]

What are your thoughts on Miracle-Gro Performance Organics? The black and yellow bag? To much for a tank?

[@TheWaterBox]

No sure. never looked at the label for that one.

[@willparsons32]

Two different types of Earth (better known as dirt!) The natural stuff or organic soil. If you're a very patient person who can wait a long time before you set up your aquarium, I'd say the natural stuff would be a choice however; If you want to get your system up and going in a week or so, go organic! Don't take my word for it though... Try putting organic dirt in a small container, add a bit of water to it, stir it up over the course of a day or two and then scoop up a handful, take a whiff of it... A good brand will not give off any odours! None at all for that matter! Do the same with natural earth and see if you get the same results!! No smell = no ammonia. You can't not smell ammonia.. if it's present, it's definitely in the dirt. "But organic soil is expensive!" ABSOLUTELY the opposite! I just picked up a 20kg bag if Schultz brand all organic soil for a measly 6 bucks at Wally world! So don't go wasting your hard earned money on "for aquarium use" labeled soil!

[@ctm75]

Mineralized topsoil is better than anything out of a bag.

[@TheWaterBox]

thanks for the tip!

[@PriscillaMKArt]

Yep to soon. Hahaha

[@TheWaterBox]

Oops. lol

[@byz513]

He's....... ALIVE!

[@TheWaterBox]

yup! :) Hello.

[@SuperHooverdam]

I’ve always used miracle grow organic, but I did one time use a bag of organic manure with osmocote and red clay capped with Carib sea eco complete. I had plants growing out of the 55 g.

[@TheWaterBox]

Nice!

[@killahpriest9528]

your display picture,you looked like a human betta

[@TheWaterBox]

Cool

[@unknownuser31792]

You cant buy any of these except the bad inorganic one.*

[@TheWaterBox]

Yes. I think, if I'm understanding your comment right.

[@unknownuser31792]

@@TheWaterBox hey can you make a video on how to plant lots of various plants togeather and how to care for them. Im talking about the big aquascape tanks you see with lots of color and depth like the amano ones.

[@JosephMartin]

first! lol

[@TheWaterBox]

You lamer firsted the video!!! OMG! lol

[@clintparsons3989]

Amazonia or go home.

[@TheWaterBox]

Woot!

[@rickey698]

2nd! LoL

[@TheWaterBox]

Right on!

[@cristianchan5402]

ahh i see... i just know osmocote has polymer inside... maybe thats why ammonia spike while put in tank.. every put in.. i wash it before put in my tank sir... (i always wash it with warm water as the seller told me).. got no idea what the seller means.. i dont know the case of CEC soil things but if i need to rich my old dirt soil... (not really aquasoil...) in my country also has fertilizer which name is Guano (bat manure... granular shape like aquasoil... exceed higher ratio of phosporus than Nitrate and Potassium)... ever ask it... they told me its organic and also slow release fert... it also can rich your soil but the side effect is they are also contain iron.. (sometime) and very very bad smells even dried (like chicken manure smell...) i just use this, in case need replanting plants... but my though its necessary because i always believe the power of dirt for a long period time... my dirt soil never grow stunt plant... even not a big composition of dirt, mix it with cattapa leaves and abit of peatmoss... they keep "abandon" as the environment is low-tech... and the interesting fact... in condition in all my tanks.. older ADA homemade need big doping with osmocote while they old enough... all slow-release organic fert can make them more yellowish because anaerob environtment... they become mud and i understand why many pro-scaper will buy a new one than make it rich back... haha... well.... seriously.... i am happy you comeback sir... XD sorry sir to editing this... i just want to say... keep healthy also...

[@TheWaterBox]

Thanks for sharing!

[@cristianchan5402]

@Realistically Dazed used for 1 years... for sure... no toxic and not myth... my neo-c shrimp is living.... reproduce... i swear... the risk of guano is not toxic... but diatom bloom... but i believe, you can handle if you full of maintenance in pre-mature phase.. did you know Japan importing alot Guano? and ADA soil ingredient has big percentage of them and the others is Urea Formadelhyde like osmocote fert? so.... i use Guano, peatmoss, vermicompost, osmocote fert and silica sand... alot Guano... also with artificial soil like rockwool and Hydroton... don't underestimate Guano because of Covid... i swear, you will won't eat that and always use safety equipment for gardening.... anyway... bat just eat fruit and insect... they were toxic because dumb peoples always starved while see wild animal and keep 'em like refugees in cage before eat them... and i believe all manure is toxic... haha... but the toxic is not about virus, but pathogen bacteria... if you have a healthy ecosystem, so don't worry.... let all of good bacteria to wipe them all... this phase, you will shock because manure will produce heat... and after that, they are incredible fert... i am not lie... and i used it for all of my tank... and believe me, you just hate that diatom while your shrimp love it...