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Post by Paul on May 28, 2007 20:12:32 GMT
Just wanted to pass on some info... Emma (copigeon) suggested I try some B&Q soil improver as part of my substrate. It's a kind of forest humus and looked really good from the sample she sent me. But, I actually bought the wrong stuff and it turned out to be a good thing. It is called: "Soil Improver for all garden types: Top Soil. Screened and Sterilised loam for beds, borders and lawns" I think it's this: www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9411948but I got 20 Litres of it for anout £1.80 It says on it: "Do not use for ericaceous plants (acid loving/lime hating)....." It's cheap and really good. It's alkaline, sterilised and screened, good quality substrate that's very loose but clay-like. Almost like clay broken up into a light crumb with lime (non-caustic). It holds water pretty well. It also comes in a sealed bag so it won't have been infested with bugs like grow bags often are. I've mixed it in with some coir for now but eventually I intend to use a mix of the improver Emma told me about and this stuff. It's not scratchy and with it being non-acidic it should be great for shells and for them eating. My snails seem happy to bury in it. As far as I'm concerned it's the most suitable substrate I have tried but I intend to mix it with the stuff Emma mentioned because I think it'll be more natural and better for the earth worms and woodlice I have in my tanks. Thought it was worth passing on.... |
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Post by Tigs on May 28, 2007 21:11:37 GMT
Thanks for that Paul - Will pop down there on Wednesday and get some
Tigs
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Val
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,498
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Post by Val on May 28, 2007 21:16:05 GMT
Oh Definitely!!!!! I am ALWAYS on the lookout for better substrate material, coir is the best I have tried so far in that it doesn't stick to the snails shells, does this stuff stick? I tried ordinary peat based compost but the snails ended up with it really stuck to their shells. Coir isn't the perfect compost though I don't think as it goes smelly too quickly. This one sounds good in that it is alkaline. Cheers Paul.
Val
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Post by kab on May 28, 2007 21:25:38 GMT
this sounds interesting , will be giving this a try in the tiger tanks , if it suits those temperamental devils im sure it will suit all mine ,
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Post by Paul on May 28, 2007 21:38:02 GMT
I find that over time coir does get stuck to the shells and it needs to be scraped off because it forms a kind of black paste. So far this stuff is no worse for sticking than anything else I have used but it's early days. Coir is good because it is sterile, but it's gritty and drains well which isn't what we want. The thing that got me thinking about other types is plants because I intend to have live planted tanks and I've found that coir on its own is pretty useless without external fertilisation, which I obviously don't wish to do in snail tanks.
I've mentioned a few times I'm scaling down, I only have 9 Megalobulimus and 9 Helix pomatia now in 2 tanks. The idea was to do a better job with fewer tanks and so I'd have time to enjoy them and get their requirements spot on. I decided on these two species because I like them and their care requirements for indoor captivity are fairly unknown. With both these species being on the small side, I can have live plants and more decoration such as tree branches etc. they can actually use rather than just taking up valuable space and being bulldozed.
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Post by Tigs on May 30, 2007 11:24:37 GMT
Picked mine up today. £2.48 for 20 litres. I had planned to get to big bag but it weighed an absolute tonne.
Changing over to it tomorow so will let you know what i think
Tigs
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Post by Tigs on Jun 6, 2007 18:57:51 GMT
Has anyone else tried this yet?
Im really impressed and so are the snails so definitely recommend it
Tigs
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Post by eric2 on Jun 6, 2007 18:58:59 GMT
dont have a b+q around here  |
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Post by Paul on Jun 6, 2007 21:36:54 GMT
You should be able to get loam from other places. Most garden centres sell John Innes at the very least and one of their numbers will be loam and more than likely sterilised and screened. That brand is usually very expensive though.
Tigs, glad to hear your snails like it. Having used it for a little longer I'm still very impressed with it and I haven't yet found any drawbacks.
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Post by lisajane8482 on Jun 8, 2007 12:21:46 GMT
Has anyone else tried this yet? Im really impressed and so are the snails so definitely recommend it Tigs Are you using this instead of coir or mixed in? |
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Post by Tigs on Jun 9, 2007 11:21:35 GMT
Im using it "neat" - They seem to like it that way but may give the mix a try aswell and see which they prefer
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Post by mickysnail on Jun 9, 2007 12:54:06 GMT
I bought a large bag of the B&Q soil improver today. It isn't the Top soil/conditioner. This is the right type isn't it? mickysnail
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Post by Tigs on Jun 9, 2007 14:34:07 GMT
I will go and look at the bag now
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Post by Tigs on Jun 9, 2007 14:36:54 GMT
I got the Top soil as thats all my branch Had - The Improver is the one that Em recommended to Paul.
What its like? Mine is a fine loam - no bits in it.
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Post by mickysnail on Jun 9, 2007 14:46:24 GMT
Thanks Tigs. I havent opened the bag yet. I will let you know later. I'm going to clean the snails out and use it soon.
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Post by Paul on Jun 9, 2007 17:46:09 GMT
There's a number of composts from B&Q described as soil conditioner. If it isn't loam it is likely to be the humus stuff. I noticed it doesn't come sterilised or screened like the loam so it may need sterilising.
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Post by mickysnail on Jun 9, 2007 21:24:29 GMT
I have cleaned out and put the new soil improver in. (Only just read about sterilising now so it hasn't been sterilised. I would have done If I had known) It is quite a gritty texture. Lots of organic material in it. Very much like other composts. It looks like forest floor substrate. It might be better mixed with something else for those snails that really don't like gritty soil.
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Post by Paul on Jun 9, 2007 22:05:29 GMT
Yeah, that's why I want a mix of both. I reckon something like 75% Loam, 25% Humus. Emma did mention her Helix pomatia had seemed more active since she'd used the type you bought.
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Post by mickysnail on Jun 9, 2007 22:16:31 GMT
Well, my immacs and cepaea nemoralis dont mind it at all, but in my experience both species are very adaptable. It is said that immacs mainly inhabit dune forests amongst leaf litter so I thought this might suit them. mickysnail
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Post by mickysnail on Jun 16, 2007 6:09:07 GMT
I am due a clean out and was just wondering about the sterilising of the B&Q humus soil. I have used peat for a long time and never sterilised. If this soil possibly needs sterlising, what is the best method? Any help would be appreciated. mickysnail
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Val
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,498
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Post by Val on Jun 16, 2007 17:45:51 GMT
I think it is already sterilised.
Val
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Post by lisajane8482 on Jul 16, 2007 11:54:22 GMT
I went a bought some of the top soil improver, same as the stuff in the link above, and my snails seem quite happy.
I noticed it has a few small pebbles in it, does anyone else have them or have i bought the wrong stuff?
Anyway, they all seem to be happy and it does hold the water better than the coir. Plus a 35l bag does all my tanks, usually i have to use 6 blocks of coir.
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Post by Paul on Jul 16, 2007 20:00:24 GMT
Sounds like the right stuff. Mine has a few small pebbles in it. They don't do any harm.
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