The popularity of aquascaping just keeps on climbing with each month that goes by due to so many people sharing their aquascaped tasks on social media and many of them going viral.
In addition to the popularity of aquascaping sky rocketing right now, we have also noticed a large number of people specifically reaching out for advice on setting up planted tanks recently too.
This has then cause people to start asking about using organic soil for their aquariums too and due to the use of organic soil for aquariums being a little controversial, we decided that we wanted to publish our own article on the topic.
The advantages is that organic soil tends to be very cheap and easy to buy in most garden stores but the main disadvantage is that the actual nutrients in it is questionable at best so many people within the planted tank keeping community use alternatives.
What Is Organic Soil?
Organic soil is simply any soil that contains decaying matter such as leaves, wood, other plant matter etc.
The nutrient levels in organic soil can vary greatly depending on what the decaying matter is made up of and how long it has been decomposing for.
This is why it is often advised that you buy organic potting mix rather than just organic soil as the levels of nutrients in potting mix is much more consistent.
Another thing to consider is that organic matter can also release toxins into the water which can be harmful to your fish so you need to make sure that you rinse it very well before using it in your aquarium.
Can I Use Organic Soil For Aquarium?
Although some people do use organic soil in their aquarium, you will commonly get much better results with alternative substrate options.
One of the main reasons for this is because organic soil can release toxins into the water which can be harmful to your fish so you need to make sure that you rinse it very well before using it in your aquarium.
Another thing to consider is that organic matter can also lower the pH of your water which is not ideal for most aquarium plants.
We would recommend that you use a clay-based or laterite-based substrate as these have proven to provide much better results for most people.
If you are set on using organic soil, we would recommend that you use it in conjunction with another substrate such as clay-based or laterite-based substrate to give your plants the best chance of success.
Why Do So Few People Use Organic Soil In Their Aquarium?
The main reason that so few people use organic soil in their aquarium is due to how niche the need for soil is in tanks.
The vast majority of people who need soil in their tanks are doing so due to setting up some form of planted tank and they will often research the plants they want to keep prior to setting everything up.
The majority of the people will discover that there are much better soil options available for a similar price with better nutrient profiles for their plants that don’t have the same risks as top soil.
This is why so many people are using organic soil alternatives in their aquarium.
Depending on exactly what you are trying to do with your aquarium, these can be excellent alternatives:-
- Clay-based Substrates
- Laterite-based Substrates
- Coconut Coir
- Sand
- Stone
Can You Use Organic Soil For Aquascaping?
Aquascaping is the art of creating an underwater landscape and is a popular way to display aquariums.
Organic soil can be used for aquascaping but it is not as common as other substrates such as sand, stone or clay-based substrates.
This is because organic soil can release toxins into the water which can be harmful to your fish and plants so you need to make sure that you rinse it very well before using it in your aquarium.
Another thing to consider is that organic matter can also lower the pH of your water which is not ideal for most aquarium plants.
How To Use Organic Soil In Your Aquarium!
If you are set on using organic soil, we would recommend that you use it in conjunction with another substrate such as clay-based or laterite-based substrate to give your plants the best chance of success.
When adding organic soil to your aquarium, make sure that you rinse it very well before adding it to your tank to remove any toxins that could be harmful to your fish.
You should also avoid using too much organic soil in your aquarium as this can lower the pH of your water which is not ideal for most plants.
We would recommend using a ratio of 1 part organic soil to 3 parts other substrate such as clay-based or laterite-based substrate.
This will give your plants the nutrients they need without lowering the pH of your water too much.
