Editing Walstad method
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[[Image:Five Litre Walstad tank.jpg|thumb|right|5 Litre Walstad tank set up in one day with fish]] | [[Image:Five Litre Walstad tank.jpg|thumb|right|5 Litre Walstad tank set up in one day with fish]] | ||
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This method of setting up an aquarium tank was made popular by [[Diana Walstad]], author of the book 'ECOLOGY of the PLANTED AQUARIUM - A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist'. | This method of setting up an aquarium tank was made popular by [[Diana Walstad]], author of the book 'ECOLOGY of the PLANTED AQUARIUM - A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist'. | ||
+ | *Basically it's a natural planted tank with a substrate containing a soil underlayer. | ||
== Alternative names == | == Alternative names == | ||
− | + | El Natural, NPT (Natural Planted Tank), Walstad Tank. | |
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* 1 inch layer of inexpensive, generic potting soil (or "top soil") available from any garden centres or various home improvement stores. ([[Wikipedia:John Innes Compost|John Innes]] number 3 recipe is ideal). Avoid soils containing chemical fertilizers (sulphates and nitrates will be converted to toxic H2S and nitrite after soil is submerged). Phosphate and calcium fertilizers (i.e., a little bone meal mixed with soil) may be beneficial. Get non-sterile 'aquatic pond soil' if it's available. | * 1 inch layer of inexpensive, generic potting soil (or "top soil") available from any garden centres or various home improvement stores. ([[Wikipedia:John Innes Compost|John Innes]] number 3 recipe is ideal). Avoid soils containing chemical fertilizers (sulphates and nitrates will be converted to toxic H2S and nitrite after soil is submerged). Phosphate and calcium fertilizers (i.e., a little bone meal mixed with soil) may be beneficial. Get non-sterile 'aquatic pond soil' if it's available. | ||
[[Image:John Innes front.jpg|thumb|Soil based compost - John Innes #3]] | [[Image:John Innes front.jpg|thumb|Soil based compost - John Innes #3]] | ||
− | * | + | * 1 inch of medium fine gravel (or very shallow layer of sand) to cover the soil layer (the soil bacteria need oxygen, so don't smother the soil layer with rocks, driftwood, etc) |
* If you have soft-water, you can mix in a calcium source (lime, coral gravel, shells, bone meal, etc) with the soil to make sure plants get enough calcium, GH for their initial set-up. | * If you have soft-water, you can mix in a calcium source (lime, coral gravel, shells, bone meal, etc) with the soil to make sure plants get enough calcium, GH for their initial set-up. | ||
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* Consider adding small snails as these speed up the mulm breakdown. But not essential. | * Consider adding small snails as these speed up the mulm breakdown. But not essential. | ||
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* You'll need a water hardness ([[GH]]) of greater than 7d. To raise GH you can add [[coral gravel]] or clean sea shells and let them slowly dissolve. However, adding a 4:1 mixture of calcium chloride and magnesium sulphate is one way to get the GH up immediately without increasing the pH. | * You'll need a water hardness ([[GH]]) of greater than 7d. To raise GH you can add [[coral gravel]] or clean sea shells and let them slowly dissolve. However, adding a 4:1 mixture of calcium chloride and magnesium sulphate is one way to get the GH up immediately without increasing the pH. |