Normal land soil in an Aquarium
It's not preferable to use normal soil for your tank unless you know what is in there. The soil for an aqueous environment needs to be organic with no chemicals, or pesticides, and have the right amount of nutrient content.
Garden soil is susceptible to an excess release of nutrients and ammonium (NH4) in the water for the first week; frequent water changes will reduce its probability.
If you use land soil taken directly from you can kill your fish. Because the land's soil is non-organic. Land soil can be used if it is free from fertilizers and herbicides.
Aquarium plants need to be planted in a mixture of substrate materials such as soil, sand, or gravel to promote good aquarium health.
Soil substrate helps plants roots easily and acts as a study anchor, so they stay upright. It also provides them with the nutrients necessary for optimal growth.
What is Soil?
Soil is usually referred to as the naturally occurring organic materials found on the earth's surface. It is mainly composed of minerals, nutrients, water, other inorganic particles, and some residues of plants and animals.
Can I use loam soil for Aquarium?
Loam soil is a good mixture of topsoil and sand. It is well-suited for all aquatic plants. The texture of loam soil will retain nutrients and water as well as bind to the nutrients in your fertilizers, which can deliver these nutrients to your plants. Loam soil holds plenty of moisture but also drains well so that sufficient air can reach the roots. A loam soil, then, is one that combines all three of these types of particles in relatively equal amounts of Sand, Silt, and Clay.
Sand particles are the largest and tend to hold Little water but allow good aeration.
Clay particles are very small in size and tend to pack down so that Water does not drain well and Little or no air can penetrate.
Silt particles are medium-sized and have properties between those of sand and clay.
What soil is best for aquarium plants?
Aquarium plants require several nutrients for their proper growth. They require micronutrients such as boron, chlorine, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, etc.
Plants require these nutrients in small amounts that's why they are called micronutrients. Plants also need nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sulfur. They require these nutrients in large amounts that's why they are called macronutrients. Now in their natural habitat plants get these nutrients from the soil.
Best aquarium soil, such as UNS controsoil or Aquario NEO soil, is typically a clay-based substrate full of nutrients that excel plant growth. Aquarium soil is an active substrate. This means that it contains properties that alter the water chemistry of the tank.
The substrate typically lowers the pH of the water, keeping it below 7, making the water softer.
UNS controsoil does not leach ammonia after being added and is known to be less messy than other aquarium soils. UNS controsoil is finer soil granules that help small roots plants, such as hemianthus callitrichoides, anchor into the substrate easier.
Ultum Nature Systems controsoil is aquarium soil. Controsoil by UNS will keep the pH of alkaline water below 7, which is ideal for keeping caridina shrimp and most tropical fish.
Plant substrate is defined as a substance on or in which plants grow. Thus, even soil can be viewed as a substrate. The main functions of the substrate are generally: providing plant anchorage, and delivering water, nutrients, and oxygen to the roots.
The best substrate for most planted aquariums is Caribbean Eco-complete planted aquarium substrates, which are easy to use and contains a good initial balance of macronutrients.
Aquario NEO soil has a lot of micropores where bacteria can live. Therefore, beneficial bacteria survive stably, prevent rapid water quality changes, and help the growth of healthy plants.
Aquario Neo Compact Soil for Plants - You can easily buy these products on Amazon
How to make your aquarium soil at home?
- Either collect garden soil using a trowel and bucket or buy a bag of potting compost from the garden.
- Sift the soil to remove stones, twigs, and other debris.
- Transfer the sifted soil to a baking tray and bake it at about 200 degrees F for 20 min.
- Lay the soil on the floor of your tank even a thin layer should help support your aquarium plants.