Yard soil in reef tank

[Mastiffsrule]

This is a great experiment. Advancement would not be made if no one ever tried. And running in a pico is good control group so to speak. I still think it may be toxic or at most produce rampant algae. And just because your particular bed worked would not be same for all.

Also, starting the thread may have been a bit rocky but sounds like we are on a good direction.

Keep us updated,

 

[ThePurple12]

Thanks for the encouragement:)

 

[Saveafish]

 

[DanConnor]

Sure, see what happens. Personally I wouldn't have bothered baking it; you aren't going to find harmful organisms that will survive and be a problem in saltwater

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I guess it really comes down to exactly what kind of soil it is, what it’s composed of, etc

I love stuff like this. Short of the soil being completel saturated in toxins, industrial waste, etc, I don’t see why most soils...especialy those found in moving water...wouldn’t work for the type of tank you’re doing.

The big issue, I guess, is going to be keeping it under the aragonite and how much good will it actually do you if it does stay under. If it were me, I would probably mix it w/aragonite, let whatever fine particulate is flowing around in the water either settle out or be filtered out, and then see what happens.

If the soil is extremely loamy, I could see you needing to do extra work to keep the pH up, but who knows?

Let us know what happens. Probably some soft corals that would really do well with that mixed in the substrate.

 

[ccombs]

I think it would be interesting to take a mud sample, let it sit in a container with a powerhead and RODI water for a few weeks, then send it in for an ICP test.

That will settle this once and for all lol.

I personally think you are asking for trouble, but if you are wanting to try something new... go for it. Keep us updated, I am legitimately interested.

 

[Saveafish]

Omg let's see pics. This is worse than that auto insurance commercial.

 

[Paul B]

I would use it as it is with no baking. I used to put garden soil in my tank all the time and I didn't invent that (but I wish I did) It was Robert Straughn "The Father of Salt Water Fish Keeping"
"The Salt Water Aquarium in the Home".

Be a Man, throw that dirt in there and while you are at it, eat some of it. :D

(or a Woman, I am not sure what sex Purple is :cool:)

 

[brandon429]

ref says youre good to go

put in a layer under reef sand like a walstad capped setup, don't churn up the sand keep it stratified. it can fertilize slowly from the bottom, like everyone else's deep sand bed. Harmless idea. we could grow sps on top of what you describe wo batting an eye. the plants w probably grow wo the excess nutrient but to use it isn't any great harm, especially if baked although not much in soil adapts to the osmotic change of insta-reef

that alone wipes out pretty much anything but microbes, cyano etc. soil is a cyano vector, but you're baking it so not really. it will not cause harm to corals, forest soil is harmless if you are wanting an elevated nutrient system or to localize a feeding zone for plants within the tank, away from the water column etc
b

 

[Mikedawg]

Might also research Brightwell Aquatics KoraLagoon Substrat Refugium Substrate

 

[DanConnor]

How deep are you making the substrate? I think most seagrass are going to want 2 or 3 inches minimum. Any idea what species you have?

 

[ThePurple12]

Substrate is about 3 1/2 inches. No idea what species they are. I'll add pictures once the tank clears up

 

[mtfish]

I am not worried about the dirt. Seagrass beds have lots of nasty muck down there. I am more curious about the seagrass species. Shoal grass would be the easiest and turtle grass will be the hardest. Looking forward to a picture of the grass so we know which one you are trying to grow. Texas has one of the world's largest hypersaline lagoons, the Laguna Madre. We have all the seagrass species you have over there.

 

[ThePurple12]

Every time I try to plant some grass, a huge cloud of dirt explodes. I had to drain all the water to be able to plant it all. Hopefully I'll have pics tomorrow:confused:

 

[vetteguy53081]

I would not. Not part of a marine ecosystem Not to mention the many elements that can leach into your system and take it down in no time.
There’s a product called miracle mudd which is reef safe and acts as soil and will accomplish what you’re trying to do

 

[TheBackAndForth]

I mean he's trying to grow plants and not corals. I would think this soil will be high in NO2,3,4, and PO4. Probably will work well

 

[James M]

Pics ?????

 

[cracker]

Nobody said this experiment would be easy . Purple, plant your plants. The explosion of dirt will settle. I like your plan if does or doesn't work . If not try something else!

 

[TheBackAndForth]

Nobody said this experiment would be easy . Purple, plant your plants. The explosion of dirt will settle. I like your plan if does or doesn't work . If not try something else!

i think it sounds fun

 

[ThePurple12]

Pics ?????

Soon!