So I've had an interest in figuring out about mineralization of top soil for the aquarium substrate for over a week now.

Not until I came upon reading page 17 of How-To: mineralizating Soil Substrate, by Aaron Talbot (claiming this is not his own recipe but he is passing it along.)

Anyway a lot of this information isn't new and very common to come by. This is a common recipe for the planted aquariums. Although after reading many pages of the thread (not all of them) I happened to come across some important information that may be very useful to others that are interested in help recreating a more pure biotope by testing using the following method Diana K talks about in page 17 of the following thread about making Mineralized Soil Substrate.
How-To: Mineralized Soil Substrate, by Aaron Talbot

After figuring out what kind of substrate composition is needed all one would have to then do is get some soil testing kits to test the nutrients.

That is an interesting read MrBabyBrine. I always have respected the advice I get on APC for plants. They are not necessarily world class on fish advice but those people definitely know plants and plant care.

Well I can understand that.

My knowledge and understanding about fish is very little and close to nothing. But while I've spend the last month or so figuring out and studying about Aquarium plants and finally figuring out that I'm not interested in Natural Planted Aquariums although I do enjoy the look of Natural Planted Aquariums made famous by Takashi Amano. I am more interested in Nature Aquariums style which is basically a biotope.

Although I for one don't have the resources nor want to do such in depth studying on how to create a perfect, pure Biotope. Although after spending a bunch of time figuring out about making long lasting inexpensive way to create a soil for plants to get it most of its nutrients I start to learn about quality of soil.

I now feel like getting some soil test kits to learn about soil. You know I said in a post of mine that my grandfather was a Aquarium Fish keeper for many years. He was also a soil scientist actually. Although not for aquatic planted tanks.

nice

Thanks for posting this MrBabyBrine! Very interesting.. I wish I had come upon this before setting up my planted aquarium. I'm using Fluorite which has worked well enough.. One day, when I have room, I plan to reuse my dad's old 90g tank that is currently languishing, empty, in the basement! Maybe then I'll try this method of making substrate.. I wonder, if made correctly, it would out perform the Fluorite in growing healthy plants?

I've spoken with a Certified Seacham Support Specialist works for Seacham. There responses are very tailored to the situation. They commonly give the generic advice. I've asked clearly will my Flourite Dark provide the nutrients enough to keep Crypt Sp. alive. Because the Crypt Sp. takes its nutrients from the roots primarily the only way my crypt Sp. would get any nutrients is if I were to use seacham's plant tabs next to the crypt sp.

I also tried to get him to answer directly will Flourite Dark provide my plants with nutrients. I'm quite sure the answer is no. Although there are other great substrates on the market that do similar if your looking to buy your own. For example, AquaSoil will do the job. There are a few I looked up.

A local LFS manager swears by that method. He has through the years made selling plants quite successful to the point where I live it is known for selling plants. Instead of ordering them in the mail one can easily hope down to that LFS.

The plants he sells form the store which grow very successfully uses this method. He has also mentioned other methods which are essentially doing the same thing with different soil like substances for substrates. Like mineralization Worm Castings. (Was made popular somewhere in North America where Aron's Mineralization Top Soil wasn't really available)

Dare you to good search for Worm castings aquarium plants.

P.S. When I get around to doing this for one of my tanks some day I'll post my results.