----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Crail" <farmertodd_at_buckeye-express.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- busy vermin
> Neato! I'm not really sure how to keep them from stirring up mulmy
> substrate. Hopefully you can figure that out. If you want, see if
they'll
> culture in a small tank 2/3 sand and 1/3 mulm mixed together. My guess is
> they're pushing out the organic material they can't digest efficiently and
> the sand may provide enough surface area that biofilms will keep it all in
> tact. It'll also space out what they can and can't eat, making a more
> orderly "buffet" instead of a pile of filler with some food in it.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John B" <bongi_at_cox-internet.com>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 3:52 PM
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- busy vermin
>
>
> > Allright, I found the culprit, little red wigglers or at least the
> > aquatic equivalent. Neat huh! I like the idea of a very live and
> > active substrate. Teh substrate was potting soil with a 1.5-3" overlay.
> > The gravel is 3-5mm white quartz gravel. I guess the worms got in with
> > the plants that I put in there. Now is there a way to keep the dirt on
> > the bottom and the gravel on the top? I thought about putting a
> > relatively thick layer of sphagnum between layers but I doubt that
> > would work.
> >
> > It goes without saying that the problem with the dirt (muck) exposed on
> > the surface of the substrate is that fish constatly keep it stirred up
> > and you wind up with cloudy water all the time and a mucked up filter.
> > Now I know what some of you are thinking, "You have an East Texas
> > Biotope Tank"! And that would be true. But that is not necessarily the
> > effect I'm after.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> >
> > Stan Perkins wrote:
> >
> > >John,
> > >Next time try soaking your plants in a formaldehyde solution prior to
> adding
> > >them to the tank. Your right in thinking you carried something into the
> > >tank. Might make a great refugium critter. Let us know if you catch
> one!!!!
> > >
> > >Stan Perkins
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "John B" <bongi_at_cox-internet.com>
> > >To: "Nanfa" <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> > >Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 10:02 PM
> > >Subject: NANFA-- busy vermin
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >>A few months back I redid my planted tank. I put potting soil on the
> > >>base and covered with 1-3" of gravel. I also planted with mostly
native
> > >>Texas plants etc. Shortly after I planted small neat piles of dirt
> > >>started to appear on the surface of the gravel, mostly at the base of
> > >>the stemmed plants. Now, virtually all the dirt is above the gravel.
> > >>It must be due to some worm, correct? Or is the gravel sinking and
the
> > >>soil is displacing the gravel? I did not place a layer of sphagnum or
> > >>of the like between layers. It (or the phenomenon) has completely
mucked
> > >>up the tank and obviously I have to redo it. I have looked and have
> > >>never seen "hide nor hair" of the critter but I am wondering if anyone
> > >>has had the same experience and what was attributed to it.
> > >>
> > >>John
> > >>
> > >>
> > >--
> > >
> > >
> > >>/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not
necessarily
> > >>/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> > >>/ Association"
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> > >>
> > >>
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> > >
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> > >>
> > >>
> > >http://www.nanfa.org
> > >/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not
necessarily
> > >/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> > >/ Association"
> > >/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
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> --
> > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
> > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> > / Association"
> > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
> Association
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word
> > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email
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> http://www.nanfa.org
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
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/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org