Hey folks

Hey guys
My name is Lawrence
Just realized I should have posted this here My name is Lawrence

Hi I'm recently new to fish keeping and I'm hooked

I'm currently running a 70L tank with a couple of plants, 6 cardinal tetras 3 guppies (Fancy) 11 guppy fry (my first), 5 plattys, 1 killifish, 1 dwarf royal loach and a non breeding snail red and black. I know this is over stocked but I have the filtration to deal with the bio-load. the fish are healthy and happy for 4 months now.

I am planning on getting a 285L tank in the next couple of months and setting up a medium planted low tech community tank. I want to avoid adding CO2 and fertz by using a topsoil capped with sand for financial reasons mainly, and I am looking for advice.

My main questions are

1: What brands of soil are suitable for the under-layer of substrate? (don't trust garden center staff)

2: I want to add clay to the soil (modelling clay) can anybody advise, and are there any other additives I should consider?

3: Would I need to mature the soil to help break down the organics before set up, and is it a case of just submerging the soil for a 6 ~ 8 week period?

4: I'm planning on adding some Malaysian tunneling snails to help avoid compacting and general clean up. I know the breed like crazy so would a couple of clown loaches keep them under control and are there any other snail eaters I should consider?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am a NOOB to planted tanks

welcome along man and i don't think your over stocked with the fish you have but i'm sure i'll be told different lol....and i'd say with the cardinals and platy's the colour is great in there.
planted tanks are new to me also dude but you will get plenty of advise here

all the best

ger

Welcome along

You can spend big money on branded aquarium substrate soils, but a good substitute is the 'aqua soil' from garden centres which is 'for ponds' but works just as well in aquariums.

Your 70 litre is probably overstocked

Welcome along to the forum.

ian

Ya It was overstocked so I added a new bio filter and all is now good,

Christyg

I cant get the aquatic soil down here in Limerick the only place that seem to have it B&Q in Dublin . I have put a deposit on the new tank a juwell vision 260.......cant wait.

I am going to start a journal of the set up so ill keep you all posted, decided on a loam based topsoil / vermiculite / clay mix topped with sand

lawrence, kevin in underwater world, castletroy s.c. has at least 2 to 3 types of aquatic substrate there if you want the soil type he can order it but its a pond soil

if he dosent have it contact Tom in d&m aquatics in d&m garden centre, Croagh co.limerick, as well as a fish shop he's a horticulturalist as well so could advise you on a soil type for your tank, just make sure theres no unnatural additives in it

Welcome aboard. Assassin snails are great for keepin the baby snails in check.

welcome to the forum..

Thanks Sheag35 I was out talking to Kevin on saturday actually real nice guy and knows his stuff.And Mickdeja ill go and research some assasin snails right away

Thks a lot for the advice guys

Welcome to the forum mate....

I must say thanks for the warm welcome all, I hope your all just as warm welcoming after I annoy everyone with stupid questions cause Im sure I will have plenty.

Welcome to the forum
There are no stupid questions everyone here is still learning more and more everyday
Just be aware this is not a hobby but an obsession lol. Ya start with one small tank and then some day ya look in your house and ya have 10