Well, as you may have read, due to a split tank and a handy insurance claim my friends are giving me a 200 litre (that i need to repair, but this is assuming that I manage it).

Now I know far more about what Im doing than I did the last time, I intend to go and do things properly, although still on a tight budget.

Id like to go for a soil substrate, with pea gravel covering. Ive been thinking about using aquatic compost, as Ive been using dried plugs of this to enrich a sandy bottom for a while with good results. Does this idea hold water? (no pun intended) Id use garden soil, but I dont have access to enough of it without making a large whole in my garden!

After looking at the prices of all the commercially available aquatic composts, it seems that I have to rule that option out, as Id need a mortgage!

Any ideas, tips, comments greatly received.