I have started making my substrate for my upcoming iwagumi.
So far it is a mix of approximately 70% mineralised soil and compost & 30% 6 month old compost which still has a lot of organic matter in it.
I have been using a home test kit to measure the PH and amount of NPK in it. I intend to grow HC so I would like to have a low PH of about 4. Is this necessary? It is deficient in K and I bought some sulphate of potash to mix with it which I am yet to do. I read somewhere that sulphates increase acidity. Will adding sulphate of potash lower the PH?
I also intend to add a lot of trace's to the substrate. I am also considering adding some red clay soil which is abundant where I live although I would be guessing whether it would be a good addition. I figure it would have traces of iron in it. Also I have some bentonite kitty litter which I would like to add to it too. I have read that bentonite can have either be sodium, potassium, calcium or aluminium based. I have no idea which one my kitty litter is based from. Should this be a cause for concern? I intend to add some slow release fertilisers to the mix as well.
I have been collecting some local mycorrhizae from under one particular tree which has an amazing amount of it attached to the roots. I am not sure if this fungi exists in under water environments but this tank is going to be a dry start tank so I would like to add this to the soil as well.
So far it is a mix of approximately 70% mineralised soil and compost & 30% 6 month old compost which still has a lot of organic matter in it.
I have been using a home test kit to measure the PH and amount of NPK in it. I intend to grow HC so I would like to have a low PH of about 4. Is this necessary? It is deficient in K and I bought some sulphate of potash to mix with it which I am yet to do. I read somewhere that sulphates increase acidity. Will adding sulphate of potash lower the PH?
I also intend to add a lot of trace's to the substrate. I am also considering adding some red clay soil which is abundant where I live although I would be guessing whether it would be a good addition. I figure it would have traces of iron in it. Also I have some bentonite kitty litter which I would like to add to it too. I have read that bentonite can have either be sodium, potassium, calcium or aluminium based. I have no idea which one my kitty litter is based from. Should this be a cause for concern? I intend to add some slow release fertilisers to the mix as well.
I have been collecting some local mycorrhizae from under one particular tree which has an amazing amount of it attached to the roots. I am not sure if this fungi exists in under water environments but this tank is going to be a dry start tank so I would like to add this to the soil as well.