Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #96

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
Subject: Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #96
From: buddy wiese <buddyw at umich_edu>
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 96 11:46:48 -0400
In-Reply-To: Your message <199607241939.PAA29235 at looney_actwin.com> of Wed, 24 Jul 1996 15:39:02 -0400

>   My understanding of this matter (as explained to me by
>   my Dutch wife) is that  nothing is 'added' to potting
>   soil to prevent weeds.  The soil is sterilized by heat.
>   This can occur naturally during the composting of the
>   soil, or it may be done by some sort of oven (I have no
>   idea how this is accomplished on a commercial scale)...
>   
>   BTW, I use African Violet potting soil for my plants
>   with GREAT success, no algae, and the fish remain alive
>   too  ;-)
>   
>   
>   Torsten Tiedtke
>   in not-so-tropical Lynden, Ontario

Have you found that this type of potting soil colors the tank less.  I
set up a small 30 gallon plant tank (my first) with potting soil from
Meijer (a large all purpose store like K-mart or Target).  It has
unfortunately turned the water tea colored overtime.  I have changed the
water a few times but the color comes back.  I sespect this is normal,
but thought it would go away sooner.  Any comments?

buddy wiese
Cloudy Ann Arbor, MI