you freshwater guys scare me, top soil in your tank who'd of thunk!    cant wait to see the pics.

I've got dirt in most of my tanks.  I've never tried putting it in afterwards, in fact I just tore down a couple of tanks to replace the substrate.  I usually get dirt when I go out to my parents place.  I get it off a little hill in the woods where I'm sure it doesn't have any farm or lawn chemicals.  It's nice dark sandy loam.  I ran out recently and had to substitute some topsoil from Lowe's.  Time to go stock up on more!

RJS8540 said :

Just started filling the tank again, even with a container to stop the "SPLASH" the water is so cloudy that I can't see to re-set the plants. I'll post some more pics later.

 

:: clapping happily::::  YAY!  I want to see pix of the process.  You know, before, during and after!

youngtimothy said :

you freshwater guys scare me

HAH!(I crack myself up).

Started filling about 3:00 this afternoon

I added a couple plants but really can't see where to place them

Full with the fishes and the plants just floating. Maybe tomorrow

I can finish planting once I can see where I'm placing them

You're on the right road Rob.  That's about how it should be looking right now.  It'd been less messy to "seal" the soil with sand, but as the biofilms form, they'll start holding the fines all together. 

It'll be a couple days before you see end to end.  And you may have some tannins when you're done that can easily be removed with a water change and then some good carbon.

The first planting is always blind  :)

Todd

I found a canister filter in the shop with no filter media so I used some filter floss and I bagged up some carbon. Then put that together will see how that does clearing things up.       I hate to wait, I really like my tanks to be clear. I will add a new photo tomorrow night.

Patience, grasshopper.  :)

Todd

This is a fun thread, I like the experimentation!

Not sure if anyone has ever heard of her but Diana Walstad wrote a book on keeping "natural aquariums". She uses topsoil and so forth in her tanks.

I've never read it as it doesn't interest me but some of you might like it! She has her own forum over at Aquatic Plant Central if you have any questions (quite a few of her followers are there as well).