bcbishop Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) Here is progress on my tank build http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=513849 Update: I picked up what im going to use for my substrate. I got a bag of earthworm castings, a bundle of peat, and a bag of turface.I plan on mixing them so it will be 1/2 earthworm castings, 1/4 peat, and 1/4 Turface. Then mixing in sand.I will lay this mixture 2'' thick first.I also picked up a trace element mix from the garden center i purchased the materials from; that includes the following:7% Iron2% Manganese1.3% Boron0.4% Zinc0.1% Copper0.06% Molybdenum1% Potassium Oxide3% Magnesium3% SulfurAny comments on this mix?How should i include the mix if i plan on doing a DSM?Should i sprinkle the mix on top of the soil mix? If so how much?I plan on capping the mix with 1" gravel the 2" sand.The guy at the plant store said i should dilute it and inject it into the soil mix after its flooded as he said that filling the tank with water will wash it out of the soil. But i did not tell him i was doing a DSM. Edited January 19, 2014 by bcbishop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekbottom Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 I just want to make sure that I'm reading this right: You're going to have 5 inches of substrate in a 12 inch tank? With 2 T5HO bulbs on top of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbishop Posted January 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Hmm that doesn't sound right does it. 1 1/2" dirt 1/2" gravel and 1/2" sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremoose Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Hmm that doesn't sound right does it. 1 1/2" dirt 1/2" gravel and 1/2" sand? Anytime I've tried to mix sand and gravel, the sand all just falls through to the bottom anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbishop Posted January 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Hmm that doesn't sound right does it. 1 1/2" dirt 1/2" gravel and 1/2" sand? Anytime I've tried to mix sand and gravel, the sand all just falls through to the bottom anyways. Maybe i will just try the dirt then a layer of sand on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbishop Posted January 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 Here is progress on my tank build http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=513849 Update: I picked up what im going to use for my substrate. I got a bag of earthworm castings, a bundle of peat, and a bag of turface. I plan on mixing them so it will be 1/2 earthworm castings, 1/4 peat, and 1/4 Turface. Then mixing in sand sand and gravel. I will lay this mixture 1 1/2'' thick first. I also picked up a trace element mix from the garden center i purchased the materials from; that includes the following: 7% Iron 2% Manganese 1.3% Boron 0.4% Zinc 0.1% Copper 0.06% Molybdenum 1% Potassium Oxide 3% Magnesium 3% Sulfur Any comments on this mix? How should i include the mix if i plan on doing a DSM? Should i sprinkle the mix on top of the soil mix? If so how much? I plan on capping the mix with 1" sand. The guy at the plant store said i should dilute it and inject it into the soil mix after its flooded as he said that filling the tank with water will wash it out of the soil. But i did not tell him i was doing a DSM. Anyone have any input to the trace element mix? I guess i want to know if it is a good mix to do a DSM with or should i inject it later after flooding it? If i can add it before the DSM where should i put it? Under the soil or on top of the soil then add the sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 (edited) it double posted. Edited January 18, 2014 by ckmullin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 The guy at the plant store said i should dilute it and inject it into the soil mix after its flooded as he said that filling the tank with water will wash it out of the soil. But i did not tell him i was doing a DSM. disagree. use as a liquid when tank is full. don't need with dry-start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbishop Posted January 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 The guy at the plant store said i should dilute it and inject it into the soil mix after its flooded as he said that filling the tank with water will wash it out of the soil. But i did not tell him i was doing a DSM. disagree. use as a liquid when tank is full. don't need with dry-start. Do you think that trace element mix is good ? How much should i put in the tank when i install the substrate? Where should i put it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekbottom Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 use as a liquid when tank is full. don't need with dry-start. I agree with this too. That's probably the same stuff I've got, mixes well with water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 What product is that? Name, SKU? Are things chelated? Compare against this: http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=inven&EditU=2&Regit=5 Your boron is way higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbishop Posted January 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 What product is that? Name, SKU? Are things chelated? Compare against this: http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=inven&EditU=2&Regit=5 Your boron is way higher. Anything wrong with the high boron? I dont know what brand or anything it is. I can ask them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 I looked again at my micro mix and it's 1.3% boron. I have no issues with that level. I'd strongly ask what product you bought from them. You have a right to know and I wouldn't use it until you know what it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekbottom Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 The container I got from them was labelled "P.P. Trace". It works fine, dissolves well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcbishop Posted January 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 The container I got from them was labelled "P.P. Trace". It works fine, dissolves well. Did you sprinkle it on the glass before you layered your substrate? Or how did you use it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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