Humus as a base substrate

Re: Humus as a base substrate

A light dusting, treat like ground peat, will work.
Adding more will make a huge mess.

A little will decompose and add some carbon to the substrate for the bacteria to help cycle the tank in the first few months, till plant decayed leaves, fish waste etc supply it, adding mulm along with the bottom of peat/humus will help cycle the tank instantly pretty much.

So add a handfull per sq ft of tank bottom, add some mulm(fresh filter sponge squeezings, or the dirt in the bottom of bucket after gravel vacuuming the substrate from an older tank.) , then cap with gravel.

Laterite really does not do much to help really.
It does prevent anaerobic conditions to some degree, but so do thriving roots, adding traces to the water column will supply enough Fe though.
Still, a little will not hurt either.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

Re: Humus as a base substrate

See the part about making a big mess and also ask yourself why might you need so much.

Peat offers little in the way of nutrients.

Regards,
Tom Barr