Re: Gas buildup in my substrate

"Dax Mickelson" <daxm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:137fl2ae0cacpbe@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Richard ***ton wrote:
>
>> In article <137c4906nkckk42@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
>> Dax MIckelson  <daxm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>Hello all.  I've had a fish tank for most of my life.  Recently 
>>>I've
>>>decided to create a tank that is mostly plants with some sup****tive 
>>>fish.
>>>
>>>I've created a substrate that is composed of vermiculite and soil 
>>>(50/50
>>>and about 2-3 inches deep) topped by about 1/2 inch of general 
>>>purpose
>>>sand.  My plants are growing well and showing good color and my 
>>>fish
>>>look healthy too.  HOWEVER, my substrate has swelled about 1/2 to 1
>>>inch.  If I push on it a ton of gas bubbles come out.  Is this a 
>>>bad
>>>thing?
>>
>> It's not particularly bad. People still use vermiculite? That's so 
>> 80's
>> :-)
>>
>>
>> (There's no particular advantage to using vermiculite, it's more 
>> im****tant
>> to fertilize properly).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> Not vermiculite?  That is all I've read about to use.  I'm new to
> aquascaping.  What do you recommend then?

There are a number of online articles that might
be helpful.  Here is one that I found useful:
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_substrate.htm

I use Profile with gravel over, and it works
well enough.  I don't add CO2, use plants that
do well without much fuss (light, fert, etc.), and
I have small jungles in my tanks.  Fish are
healthy, monthly partial water changes are
sufficient.

Gail