Jake Senior
Seedling
- Joined
- 5 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 15
Please help!!!!!....I have 10 fantastic boesemani rainbow fish and I want to create a lush planted 300 litre tank for them (I wasn't planning on using CO2). Ideally ph neutral-7.5. I currently use Bristol tap water, not as hard a London water but is alkaline (TDS ranges 200/260). I was completely sold on a dirt tank idea...compost, (optional fluorite) and gravel to cap. However the more i read the more confused I get... which compost, which make/brand, will it affect the ph (will aquatic pond soil or compost reduce the ph, but will john innes no3 increase the ph...etc etc)!
So baring in mind my fish, what ph I'd like to have and the look I want to achieve (clear very slightly alkaline water with lush plants...swords, crypts, java fern, anubius, Ludwigia, val, lotus, star grass etc and a small amount of carefully chosen branches - bog or rosewood for the java fern, anubius and moss creating hight and interest), what substrate should I go for?????
Options (top to bottom):
1): gravel, flourite (red/dark mix), john Innes no 3 (Please someone suggest a safe brand)... but will this make the tank too alkaline.
2): gravel, flourite (red/dark mix), Westlands aquatic pond soil... but will this lower the ph too much
3): gravel, flourite and lose the compose all together....but will this provide enough nutrients?
All and any advice welcome.
Thanks
So baring in mind my fish, what ph I'd like to have and the look I want to achieve (clear very slightly alkaline water with lush plants...swords, crypts, java fern, anubius, Ludwigia, val, lotus, star grass etc and a small amount of carefully chosen branches - bog or rosewood for the java fern, anubius and moss creating hight and interest), what substrate should I go for?????
Options (top to bottom):
1): gravel, flourite (red/dark mix), john Innes no 3 (Please someone suggest a safe brand)... but will this make the tank too alkaline.
2): gravel, flourite (red/dark mix), Westlands aquatic pond soil... but will this lower the ph too much
3): gravel, flourite and lose the compose all together....but will this provide enough nutrients?
All and any advice welcome.
Thanks