Yard soil in reef tank

[ThePurple12]

Hey R2R. I couldn't find a substrate forum, so I'm posting here.

There's a stream bed in the woods surrounding my house where I collected some soil for my 10g freshwater planted tank. The plants in there are growing like crazy, so it must have all the right nutrients.

I brought home some seagrass from FL. They're currently in my reef tank, which has 1-2 inches of sand. I know this probably isn't great for seagrass, which is why I'm setting up a 2g pico reef.

My question is: can I use soil (baked in oven to kill unwanted organisms) mixed with aragonite sand to grow seagrass?

 

[reef lover]

I wouldnt myself...i would use a refugium mud or similiar.

 

[ThePurple12]

Thanks for replying. Can you elaborate?

 

[reefwiser]

Not unless you want to create a mess.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Not sure why, but I would not use them. Most likely they have high nutrient levels like phosphate and other fertilizers that may be run off from some other point in the stream. Fresh water plants are doing good because it is acting like fertilizer. In reef tank those same nutrients are going to reek havoc, algea and unknown other bad chemicals fresh water isn’t sensitive to.

But I am just hypothesizing

 

[ThePurple12]

I guess I want it to be mainly a saltwater planted tank, so extra nutrients wouldn't be a problem for seagrass, macros, and mangroves. I'm gonna try it and see what happens;Nailbiting

 

[Mike.P]

Thanks for replying. Can you elaborate?

You can use Miracle Mud... It's also beneficial for the tank overall, as it slowly releases beneficial elements and trace chemicals; I always put a couple of trays with it in my sumps.

Definitely do not put regular soil in your tank.

 

[reef lover]

 

[ThePurple12]

Definitely do not put regular soil in your tank.

What's wrong with regular soil?

 

[ThePurple12]

There are no pesticides, and I plan on "baking" it in the oven to kill unwanted life. I don't see what the problem is

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Baking may kill parasite, it not going to sanitize the potential phosphate, nitrate and other things that may be in there,as far as I know.

Most opinions here are no to your question. It’s up to you to do what you want with the info, but remember you asked the question.

 

[Maacc]

Generally the fine soil won't settle with the higher flow of a marine tank. As stated above, there are some metals toxic in a marine environment that isn't in fresh water and vice versa. You seem to be determined to do it however, irrespective of advice so give it a whirl and let us know how it turns out.

 

[ThePurple12]

I was going to do it in the first place, I just wanted to hear some opinions first. It's finished baking now, time to put it in the tank

 

[ThePurple12]

Baking may kill parasite, it not going to sanitize the potential phosphate, nitrate and other things that may be in there,as far as I know.

Most opinions here are no to your question. It’s up to you to do what you want with the info, but remember you asked the question.

The nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate are what I want, as it will be for a planted tank

 

[Mastiffsrule]

My question is: can I use soil (baked in oven to kill unwanted organisms) mixed with aragonite sand to grow seagrass?

Totally mean this nicely, but I may have asked something like I am going to use this, what problems does anyone foresee. It comes across like you asked a question but was fighting the answers.


I am definitely interested in what will happen. Will u keep this thread updated?

 

[Mike.P]

Baking may kill parasite, it not going to sanitize the potential phosphate, nitrate and other things that may be in there,as far as I know.

Most opinions here are no to your question. It’s up to you to do what you want with the info, but remember you asked the question.

The nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate are what I want, as it will be for a planted tank

What's wrong with regular soil?

It's the wrong consistency, and will blow all over your tank. It doesn't contain the same compounds as sea mud. Baked or not, it can still contain harmful pathogens and spores. It could upset the chemical balance and pH of your tank. So on, and so forth.

But you seem set it on using in anyway, so why even pose the question, if you know better than everyone...?

 

[cracker]

Hey Purple , I say Go for it get back & let us know.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hey Purple , I say Go for it get back & let us know.

You rock,rebel and trendsetter .

 

[ThePurple12]

Totally mean this nicely, but I may have asked something like I am going to use this, what problems does anyone foresee. It comes across like you asked a question but was fighting the answers.


I am definitely interested in what will happen. Will u keep this thread updated?

Yes, the dirt is cooling down in the tank now. I put a layer of aragonite sand on top of the dirt to prevent it from blowing around.

 

[cracker]

LOL, He's gonna try it anyway. Iv'e used shallow tupperware containers ala Paul B with mud I collected . It wasn't tooo messy ! ;Smuggrin