Humus as a base substrate

[Amitava Chakraborty]

Hi,

I have got a packet of humus from my lfs. It is a product of prodac of Italy.

You can goto their website at http://www.prodac.it/english/dolce7.htm

Do anybody use this?

Can I use humus as a base substrate which I will cover with laterite and natural gravel ?

regards

 

[Tom Barr]

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

 

[Amitava Chakraborty]

Re: Humus as a base substrate

Thanks Tom,

Should I boil the humus prior to use it ?

As per your suggestion, I will not use laterite. I will put handful of humus persquare foot and top up with 3"-4" layer of 2-3 mm natural gravel.

regards

 

[jerime]

Re: Humus as a base substrate

Tom, I've seen some folks adding a lot of that and peat to the substrate (2 inch layer). Is there something that is called too much? if so, what are the down sides?

 

[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

 

[srozell]

Re: Humus as a base substrate

Do we have to pay any royaties to Tom for using humus in our substrate?