Things You'll Need
- Aquarium
- Driftwood
- Three pounds of top soil per square foot of aquarium floor
- 10-gallon plastic container
- Large, shallow plastic tray
- One quarter pound of clay per square foot of aquarium floor
- Half cup of potash
- Half cup of dolomite
- Fishing line
- Assorted aquatic plants, including moss
Instructions
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Preparing the Soil
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1
Place three pounds of topsoil into a 10-gallon plastic container and add sufficient water to cover the soil. This quantity of top soil will be required per square foot of tank bottom.
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2
Break up any lumps and ensure that the soil has mixed thoroughly with the water.
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3
Pour off the water after 48 hours.
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4
Add fresh water to the container and allow it to stand for a further two days.
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5
Place a large, shallow plastic tray in the sun and pour the moist soil into this. Spread the soil out thinly.
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6
Leave the soil to dry for a further 48 hours.
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7
Pour the dry soil back into the container and cover with water.
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8
Repeat Steps Three through to Six another three times.
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9
Add water to the soil once again and thoroughly mix in a quarter pound of clay.
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10
Mix in a half cup of both potash and dolomite.
Setting up the Aquarium
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11
Add the soil mixture to the aquarium. Ensure you have a depth of at least 1 inch.
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12
Cover the soil mixture with gravel to a depth of 2-inches at the back of the tank. Slope the gravel gently to the front glass pane.
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13
Fill the aquarium halfway with water.
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14
Place a number of pieces of aquatic moss onto the driftwood and secure these with fishing line.
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15
Position the driftwood in the aquarium.
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16
Use your finger to make a number of depressions in the gravel, around the pieces of driftwood.
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17
Plant your aquatic plants in these depressions. Ensure that the roots are pushed into the mineralized top soil layer and cover them with gravel.
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18
Fill the aquarium with water and add the filters and heater.
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