Soil Substrate Aquarium Guide - Get EXPLOSIVE Growth! 

A few tips from somebody with several years of dirt tank experience. 1) The process of wetting and drying the soil outside before using it is called "mineralization". The purpose of it is basically to refine the dirt, getting rid of all the floaty bits that he had to net out in the video. He did the same thing, just in his tank instead of in a bucket or kiddie pool in the driveway. Soak the dirt, use a net or cheesecloth to get the floating scum out of the water, let it dry, repeat if you feel the need. 2) You can mix the clay much more effectively into the soil than by using the ball method in the video. You're going to wet the soil anyhow, simply dissolve the clay into the water you're going to use to wet the soil. That gives you a fine film of iron-rich clay throughout the entire substrate rather than a few big clumps here and there. You can make it even easier by getting the clay in powder form from any number of art supply sites. Make sure it is iron-rich clay, kitty litter is not the same stuff. Although you can use more than one type of clay, they do have different properties. 3) Quit worrying about substrate depth! This myth needs to die. Ponds and lakes have massively deep substrates, they aren't toxic. Quite the opposite, it's known that a deep substrate is beneficial. The "anaerobic" bacteria boogeyman that everybody warns you about is the same aerobic bacteria everybody cultures in biofilters. It's just that in low-oxygen environments the bacteria switches its metabolism to suit the lack of oxygen. The end result is that it turns ammonia and nitrates into nitrogen gas. In other words, it ends the nitrogen cycle. Our 75g has almost 6" of substrate in it. No, it doesn't smell like a swamp or cause health issues inside or outside of the tank. 4) Don't use just the soil for the base layer. Potting soil is entirely biological stuff, very fine grains. It will compact when wet and form a dense mass that makes it hard for roots to grow through. Treat it like you would any other garden soil, add amendments to loosen the soil. A bit of sand, maybe even a little bit of small gravel. This opens channels for the water and roots to pass more easily. 5) You can make your own "dirt" and have complete control of the mix if you want. Worm castings provide the biological mass, rock dust (like Azomite) provides minerals for the plants, maybe a bit of bone meal for calcium and other trace elements. Sand, clay, voila! I'd probably only recommend this for larger tanks since some of the stuff seems to only be available in bulk form and would be a bit expensive if you only needed a little of it. Overall, good video. There is no better substrate for a planted tank than dirt and I'm glad to see people giving it a try. I just wanted to pass along some things I've learned over the past several years.

I'm planning on setting up a planted tank soon and I'm doing so much research. Your videos are to the point, informative, and entertaining! You've answered every single one of my questions with this series, thank you!!!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I’ve been try to set up my first live plant aquarium with little success. You video was short , to the point and showed me exactly what I needed to know. So, thank you.

Thank you for sharing this great informative tutorial on substrates. I always had gravel in my tanks, but then again I was limited to growing certain plants that would grow in gravel. Now I will be using dirt, gravel, and dosing CO2. A full Spectrum Light is in order too. I enjoyed watching!

Another great video, and you make using soil seem easy! Love your straightforward approach and concise, info-packed episodes. I'll be setting up a 10 gallon this month to test this out on my own before diving in with my bigger tanks. Wish me luck :D

Organic Soil really worked for me, and my soil didn't go murky as I've damp the soil first and then the substrate then after filling it up, the water was still clear, and I added my fish since the water was already cycled. It worked great for me, Thank you😊

Such a great point. It's really not as hard as people think. Just takes a little knowledge! I've thought about using organic potting soil with gravel cap in my next tank. Great video!

Awesome job explaining , never had a planted tank and you made that look like a breeze. Thanks !

Thank you for this simple clear explanation and demo.

I used miracle Gro Potting mix and it worked fine. Better than expected. Of course was skeptical but plants were stocked and snails were present

I've been using soil for about a year now. Worked out well.

Thanks for the upload- surprised it worked so well and looked so easy

Keep up the great content always look forward to your videos

Literally finished setting up my walstad type 5 gallon tank minutes ago...I was fumbling with the substrate selection mainly...surprised to see you coincidentally posted this one few hours earlier! I used a mix of normal compost and a small amount of garden soil.

Excellent!! I needed this video so badly! Straight to the point. Much appreciated 🐠 🐌

Very helpful, thank you. One other thing I've often read helps with keeping the soil healthy are digging snails, like melanoides tuberculata.

Just watched the vid. Great info and great pace of explanation. Also, thanks for not being a product overlord and making it seem like you have to have a whole lot to do this.

Thank you I needed a cheap solutions for planting my new tank up

Thank you 🙏 very informative article 😊

Great video, with lots of useful info!

I'm so glad it was easy to find you on YT. Best overall tank info for beginners that want correct things that I can find. New sub :D Also going to be a dirt guy for my first tank! Love from Canada

YES!! Soil substrate is the best!

My tank looks amazing thanks for the info

The wetting and drying out part he was talking about is called mineralization. It's a process that converts organic compounds to inorganic ones using microbes. Less organics is better for algae control and I believe inorganic compounds are easier for plant uptake. I think mineralization might happen in this type of tank as well, just more slowly

I saw this video about a month ago and it inspired me to use organic soil. Then when I actually got the soil i forgot parts of this video. For example I was alarmed to see wood chips on the soil. Then I thought of having a thick layer. I watched it again and realize that i should have sifted the soil and that the layer should be an inch or less. Another words this video is excellent but dont watch it just once. So far this is the best video I have seen here for using soil

Fantastic. Cheers. Will definitely try this on my 4ft tank

Great job, straight to the point

Thank you for making this vid It’s very helpful :)

Always a good video man!

Man you made everything looks so simple , i was afraid to use a soil that's not made specifically for aquariums but i don't think I'm afraid of that anymore i just need to make sure it's 100% organic right? Your video should have 500k views at least And the fact that you're answering all the comments is great Like and subscribed and i hope to learn more and more from you thank you

Really wish you were still create content. This is excellent.

Excellent! Thank you!

good advice on the soils used

Thank you for this tutorial.

Great video. Thank you!

Thank you! Very clear and straight to the point, got my tank today and all the substrate info out there was a bit overwhelming. I am planning to fill my tank with plants alone, no fish or anything like that. Would everything be okay if I didnt use a filter?

Great information. Thanks

Enjoyed this. Thanks.

I like your videos in special your SPONSORS. I am looking to get soil for my new 75g setup, but even the organic has some stuff and i am no sure if will be it safe for my fishes. It will be my first dirt tank. Thanks for your videos!!!

Awesome video thank you sir!

So much respect! So far ive been using potting soil as a bottom layer and put a nice thick layer or eco complete with a a third one of fluval stratum. One of the main pros would be the elimination of a c02 source because the organic soil will release is it.

awesome vid bro

So helpful thank you so much

great video. I wish I would have known about this before I set up my tank with just gravel. I almost want to set up tank number two this way and transfer my live stock over after it cycles and redo tank number one the same way.

Wow! Amazing results at the 5th week! I think the magic recipe is Miracle Gro dirt, Mexican iron supplement discs, sand, HIGH light, and CO2!

Thanks. So much simple

Really good howtos between you and Aquapros. Really appreciate it. Having an odd problem with snails dieing in this setup. 3/4" soil under 1" of Rio Cafe XF. Water parameters are good. The snails just don't seem to be handling something well in it.

thanks

Hi, I live in New Zealand and I bought *Yates Natures Way Organic Seed Raising Mix* should I bake first ?

Firstly, thanks for providing an alternative method to build own substrate. My questions: 1. Can i grow Monte Carlo carpet with this substrate? or should restrict only to amazon plants? 2. Can i use river sand for my top cap? 3. using a bigger gravel be better than soil, considering the fact that soil can get into sand cap faster than slightly bigger gravel? 4. What carpet plant have you used? is it dwarf sag or dwarf sword? Please reply. -Thanks a lot.

Good info thx dude

I started a dirt tank (organic choice) about........mmmmm........6 or 7 years ago in a 20g. I forgot what I capped it with. Never changed the soil. It's still kicking and I grow swords, which I understand really suck up the nutrients. I'd say my water is a bit cloudier than other tanks after all this time but it doesn't bother me too much. Been thinking about setting up a 40g breeder. At first I wasn't going to do dirt this time around but I think you convinced me to do it again. I guess my current tank is doing so well, that I have my own proof as it is. So thanks for re-confirming what I found works. I like the clay ball idea. I never did that. My existing tank is high light and pressurized CO2.

It looks great. Can you talk a bit about how you maintain it over the long term? What will you do when the nutrients and minerals from the soil are depleted? Thank you.

Is soil your goto substrate for planted tanks? Let us know! Soil Substrate Maintenance Guide: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WwjOMmxXO0Q.html

“Pretty fairly really simple”

Hi, very useful video I just did my set up on a 10 gallon. I am currently cycling the tank but I have a question regarding air stones and if it will be useful to incorporate as I plan to stock my tank. Any tips on cleaning the sand cap I noticed while planting some of the particles of dirt came to the surface I used my net to pick up the majority but I still see particles on the bottom and I am afraid to disturb the plants or agitate the sand.

Would it be ok to go straight volcanic soil only (fluval stratum)? Or do i need to buy sand on top of that as well?

This was super useful 😭 I thought I was doing something wrong cause the soil was so messsssy

Now I kinda want to demolish my beatiful aquascape and get into soil. Damn you wise man.

Thank you!

You just earned a sub

One huge question I have. I love bottom feeders like Cory's. Maybe a trumpet snail. Will these be an issue with a planted tank?

Excellent video dude ! Simple and basic I totally dig it lol ... you think this concept would work well for a patio pond as well ?

3:53 was me one time ago I had tall plants and was hoping to get them to stand up on its on in the water. the small plants are easier but the tall ones just layed there lol.

Hello, quick question please, just about to do a dirt tank next week. I'm in the UK so I will be using miracle gro potato and veg which is 100% chemical free and organic mix with plant gro. With a white aquatic sand cap on top. What's your opinion on running a Co2 kit with a dirt tank please? I've got a 190 ltr tank and I just bought a new Co2 kit but I'm thinking of not using it. Many thanks

You're so right about the mix info's on the internet... gezzz... nowadays hard to separate facts from trolls. I am going to follow your method here and go all out on my 150gal tank... hopefully I won't screw it up so bad... :D

Need and advise please. I set my aquarium following your advise withe Miracle organic soil and topped with sand. I has been a year or more. I made a water change, sometimes more than 50% weekly and have not being able to get a real clear water. At the end of the week is te color. regards from Panama City Panama

I liked your tank. Simple yet nicely arranged. Can you share list of the plants used in this video?

I have a really thick biofilm building up from the substrate. Would beneficial bacteria like dr Tim’s one and only help?

Beautiful

nice, here in panama organic substrate is very expensive and heavy to import, buymt I can get that miracle gro here and natural sand and gravel. if get a bit of mud it will bring bacteria?

Hi, so if i want to do a dirted tank to have a huge jungle of plants but i am kinda nervouse about it killing my fish or especially me betta with the nitraits.

So would doing a soil tank, with flourite dark on top, be an ok way to go fo ra dry start method to grow carpet?

Great video! Just one question, if I’m using a carpet plant like dwarf hairgrass, do I need to cover the dirt with gravel or sand?

Thanks man

Question, the first time you fill up the tank to syphon out the dirty floating stuff/brown water do you use regular tap water?

Sir, i hope you could help me with this. im planning to have a 1.5inch organic soil then on top of that i will use 1 inch aquarium soil.do you think it will work? and any other recommendation? i cant really afford the pure aquasoil, my aquarium is 48x20x20 inches. i have sump for my filter , ill use low tech plant with no to low co2 requirements so ill use the diy setup you made.

Hey! Thanks so much for this video. I am setting up a planted 5.5 gal, with just neocardinia and looking to use this method. Do I need to use clay, etc... or will just mineralizing/wetting and drying the miracle grow and then capping with sand be sufficient? Am not able to find clay around within my budge at the moment :(

I wish I had seen this videos sooner. I *just* set up a 5 gal nano tank with half and inch of sifted organic dirt (all I had but it's good quality) and about 1.5 inches of substrate. Is that going to make any difference?

I tried this on a smaller tank and there's tannins releasing into the water. does that mean I didn't put enough to cap the dirt? theres no driftwood in the tank. Just plants

Thanks!

I'm doing an experiment where I put soil in a mesh pouch, it is made from window-screens. The finer the holes, the better. The idea is to contain the soil, in case I want to undo the soil substrate. I understand it will leak out but it is better to have the soil in a "clump" instead of having to dig it out in case I change my mind. It is a quicker change for re-scaping the aquarium. I am using soil-pouches as the base to be topped off with sand. The sand can be sucked out and rinsed if I choose to recycle it; the soil in theory will be left separate contained in the pouches with some eventually spilling out but not completely.

Hi, iIve been searching online for pool filter sand that is size of a BB pellet which is 4.5mm like Dustin suggest but you recommended sizes between 2 and 3mm. Do you know what brand and where to buy the 3mm? I'm in San Diego. Regards!

Will using dirt leech ammonia into the tank like aqua soil for example, don’t get me wrong I obviously have test kits and plan to use them... but want to know what I’m getting myself into, thanks!

Can I put eco complete over the soil as my top? And where can i find the mexican pottery? And i wonder if i could use speedy dry its like kitty litter just no scents

The water box! Hello again! last question (for now: D), size of cap ?? sand or gravel? what's the best? I found the sand for the pool filter, but in Italy the size is not specified, how many mm must be? 0.45 / 0.85? quartz or silica? Thank you so much you are the best

what is the glass thing on the right of the aquarium? It has some sort of blue liquid in it

Does the Mexican clay work as a good source of iron in all planted tanks? The substrate I typically use is flourite black sand, though I'm considering a soil tank. I'm wondering if this may be a more economical choice than dosing with liquid iron supplements.... Thanks, great video!

hi newbie here - thanks for the great tips - do you have a list of the plants you use would love to replicate your idea - thanks Pauli from England

Will soil and pool filter sand work with an undergravel filter? I'm fairly certain that using an undergravel will help with plant growth, I'm just uncertain if it will get clogged by the soil... love to hear your thoughts. Cheers!

He boss so I added ecosphere complete to my 40 gallon breeder tank.can I add the soil on top with the eco complete still working? Or should I add the soil and then the eco complete?

Thank you! Can the soil be pulled away from the gkass and inch or two and then capped so that the soil/roots are not visible ? Seems like this should work.

HI. i just started my planted aquarium on organic soil and topped it with gravel. It has been a second week and I still have horrible algea bloom. i do 70% water change every other day and the light runs 5h a day. Now i'm trying to turn off the lights for couple of days. I'm wandering if the fact that the organic mix that I used have some organic fertilizers in it may cause this bloom? Do you think it'll clear out or do i need to restart? i used Green Mountain Compost premium organic potting mix.

Question: Did you rinse the pool sand until it was clear or did you add it to tank straight from the bag?

I'm a noob at planted tanks but I've been watching a lot of your videos; would having high light without co2 negatively affect plants other than slowing down growth of some medium/low light plants if I do a dirted method?

I am building a fish room with multiple tanks connected with causeways. I have Malaysian trumpet snails. If I put together a Dirted tank will it cause problems if my Malaysian Trumpet snails migrate to this tank and borrow beneath the substrate as they like to do during the day?

How did I miss this episode?! Thanks bro, I was thinking of doing this soon. I’m gonna use flower soil instead. Maybe I’ll place a UG too :-)

Thanks great 👍

I really want to try this in my 6 gallon tank. but one problem: Iam using an internal filter. If I hav it planted, what filter can i use? I dont think the glasses are strong enough to hold a HOB either. pls help

hey thanks for all inf on all you videos, i having a problem i use dirt cap with sand the tanks is 3 months, this is the issue the plants i notice getting a dark green in edge of the leaf and star melting, from the beginning my nitrate is a 30 to 40ppm i think is for my stock and the slow grow of my plants i do 30% to 50% of water change every week i was dosing pps pro but after that i stop dosing kno3, and after i see the plants was getting holes so raise the k2so4 and the hole stop, but i still getting the dark green at the edge of the leaf, 3 week ago i buy a phosphate test i see my po4 is 0.25 and dosing 1ppm weekly so doable the kh2po4 and still my po4 0.25 when i dose more kh2po4 daily i see a better grow should i raise the dose of kh2po4?