Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tank Plant Advice => Topic started by: naughtymoose on November 13, 2014, 10:25:38 AM

Title: Pond compost
Post by: naughtymoose on November 13, 2014, 10:25:38 AM

Hi aquatic planters!

I've got hold of a little second-hand tank to grow a few plants in preparation for my bigger tank project.

I've also been given a bag of old 'Tetra Pond' compost. Is it suitable to use as a 'Walsted-type' tank? I can't think why not? I was planning on putting a 25mm layer and then a 25mm layer of sand.

No fish in this tank, so I was just going to filter but not heat.

I'll be trying the super glue Java on a bit of Mopani wood, and also on a bit of coconut shell. I've also got some Lilaeopsis brasiliensis in my 40L that doesn't seem to be doing very well, so thought I'd plant it directly in the substrate in the plant tank.

Thoughts and suggestions please?

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: biffster on November 13, 2014, 10:30:57 AM

i use Aurthur j bowers aquatic compost when putting
a layer down under substrate

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: naughtymoose on November 13, 2014, 10:50:02 AM

Is 25mm about right biffster? Any additives needed?

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: biffster on November 13, 2014, 10:57:02 AM

i use an inch to an inch and a half with two or three inches
of play sand on top

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: Aquamaid on November 25, 2014, 06:12:27 PM

Hi NM seems like we have similar thread, i'm trying to find suitable compost or plant base layer under my gravel, my tank will have fish in and i don't want to raise Ph, (some have lime in ) so got some googling to do : ) I'm beginning to appreciate the plants as much as the fish lol

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: Richard W on November 25, 2014, 06:20:24 PM

Plant compost won't raise your pH even if it has lime. Most plants prefer a neutral pH of about 7 and lime is only added to neutralise the natural acidity of the other components to give a pH of about 7..

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: biffster on November 26, 2014, 03:25:46 AM

plant compost is not aquatic approved compost
and can leach all sorts of chemicals in to your tank
only use aquatic approved compost its safe for ponds
and aquariums normal compost is very high in nitrate
and phosphates the concentrations are so high it will kill
fish off and encourage algae 

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: biffster on November 26, 2014, 03:28:33 AM

thats speaking from experience 

Title: Re: Pond compost
Post by: Richard W on November 26, 2014, 07:10:03 AM

Sorry, I meant "plant compost for ponds" .....................