Improving topsoil quality and composition

[tworoses]

I've got a bunch of Westland topsoil lying around, and I'm thinking of using it in my aquarium. Has anyone else used this stuff? It seems like a waste to just let it sit there when I could be using it instead of buying something new.

[matti]

I've used a peat-free top soil from Homebase in my 90L tank. It's worked a treat with the plants, but be careful not to overdo it as the nutrients can leach into the water column. I've got a 1/2 inch layer under a 2-inch gravel cap and that seems to be the sweet spot. As tworoses said, it's worth doing some research before diving in - watching a few vids on using top soil in aquariums can give you a better idea of what to expect.