Re: NANFA-- busy vermin

John B (bongi_at_cox-internet.com)
Sun, 15 Feb 2004 14:52:03 -0600

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"
>>/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
>>
>>
>Association
>
>
>>/ 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
>>/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
>>/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page,
>>
>>
>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 Association
>/ 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
>/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
>/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, 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 Association
/ 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
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org