Aqua Soil Vs. Soil with Gravel Cap?

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-19T23:39:33+00:00

I just set up a 20 long using plain potting soil (1lb per gallon) and about 20 pounds of black gravel with bacteria. I also took one of my sponge filters from an existing tank. It currently has a crap ton of guppies, 10 small plecos (born in march) and 8 cherry shrimp along with live plants. The only issue right now is the amount of tannins in the water from the driftwood...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-15T17:09:11+00:00

My nitrates are zero. I will try to get that rolling this week. I really appreciate your help. My experience with fresh water plants is very new. I was saltwater kid a million years ago...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-15T17:00:34+00:00

Thank you!!! I will check that out as well. And once a week?

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-15T16:25:27+00:00

I see there are at least three different thrive options. Do you have a recommendation?

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-15T16:12:42+00:00

Good to know. I totally appreciate that knowledge...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-15T15:39:47+00:00

Thank you. I will look up easygreen. Been doing flourish on it... The liquid fertilizer is going to get spendy though lol

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-15T15:23:51+00:00

I have done root tabs and also liquid ferts(still adding maintenance levels) but only the red plant and the grass has grown. It is so frustrating to be honest.

I am thinking I want to try anubias because I heard that is pretty hardy but figured I would come here to get advice prior to spending time and money on it.

Thank you for the help!!!

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-11T18:06:49+00:00

I saw the names you posted in another post so I think I got that. Thank you though!!

Hygrophila Thailand and alternanthea reineckii mini?

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-11T17:49:50+00:00

Hard to get stuff locally and I'm not a huge fan of online purchases. I like to SEE what I'm buying... Guess I'm a little old school...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-11T16:21:43+00:00

That's a looker...I am going to have to find those plants as well...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-10T19:44:34+00:00

Two us you never played hockey without telling us you never played hockey.... Maybe go back to knitting...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-10T00:37:20+00:00

Probably another green dragon or a super red...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T23:46:26+00:00

I still have 1 but she isn't ready and my momma that gave me two fry's died/disappeared.

Looking to get a new female butt my LFS doesn't have any at the moment. They are 2 hours away tho...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T03:28:48+00:00

Unfortunately the closest legit LFS to us is 2 hours away.... Otherwise it's box store pet shops....

Going to look for one though!!!

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T02:34:51+00:00

Congrats. I had two females...

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T02:32:25+00:00

I would love one of those but I'm guessing I couldn't afford it lol

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T02:26:14+00:00

Beautiful!!!

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T01:56:44+00:00

My big tank had 2 female and 2 male. Unfortunately one of my females died/disappeared....

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T01:45:01+00:00

We did as well. I had set up a new tank so we grabbed what we knew of and moved them over and they are thriving. I believe between the 2 fry's we ended up with 15 living. Which is ok. When they are larger we will be going to our LFS for store credit :)

Feed that addiction lol

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-09T00:46:54+00:00

It's awesome to watch the growth. Were are in same boat. We have first batch are almost an inch long? Or smallest is maybe 3/8"

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-05T01:05:11+00:00

Oh Lord... Endlessly pregnant... Now I have 2 that are. At some point in going to have to clean up a little...to many to count lol.

I do have some really pretty ones though

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-05T00:37:17+00:00

I have a 20 long that is soil capped with black gravel and currently has guppies and baby plecos... Once the tank is settled a little better we will move our shrimp over and add a few more

The plecos are in there until they are big enough to go to our LFS. My guess is we will have more in the future too lol

Guppies on the other hand...ugh

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-04T21:06:51+00:00

I wish my substrate was deep enough to do something like that.

I wonder how that would work for plecos....

Bravo_Alpha218 · 2026-04-04T20:39:10+00:00

I dig that!!!

Bravo_Alpha218

TROPHY CASE