fishdud
Aquarium Advice FINatic
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2011
- Messages
- 962
rreekers said:you could mix the substrate with sand... instead of just covering it.
if you do add sand, or even disturb the floramax i would suggest removing your fish, then do water change, add sand before refilling your tank after your water change.
that is what i would do. that is what i did when i created a sand pit in my 60g
rreekers said:mine is mixed, i used floramax just like you, river rock pebbles and natural colored sand that matched the river rocks. i like it but its a personal preference
-maybe look online for sand that matches the floramax substrate
i just wouldnt suggest layering substrate, i feel like there are a few complications that could cause but of course do what you think is best for your fish. just sharing my opinion
rreekers said:the complications i have hear of consist of gas bubbles and growth of fungus or precipitate solids. this happens from stagnant sand or gravel. this is one plus to gravel because you dig down and siphon it, releasing gases and stuff like that.
rreekers said:the complications i have hear of consist of gas bubbles and growth of fungus or precipitate solids. this happens from stagnant sand or gravel. this is one plus to gravel because you dig down and siphon it, releasing gases and stuff like that.
akagochi said:Someone mentioned that they changed their substrate with fish still in the tank? (fishdud). I have a sand gravel mix, 55 gal heavily planted, but really want to add floromax. Did you drain your tank down? I'm trying to figure out the best way to add soil with the least amount of work and/or disturbance to the fish. Does adding soil to a tank with water in it, hurt the fish? How much water should I drain?
akagochi said:I like where you are all going with this, what do you think about me pulling up half the plants in the tank, taking out half the sand/gravel substrate where those plants were, adding a soil on the bottom of that empty space, then replacing the sand gravel mix, then replant the plants. On the other half I repeat the process.
just an idea. your thoughts are appreciated.
akagochi said:Not necessarily replace all the sand, but use some of it to put on top of the soil after. I will make sure to cut the amount of gravel/sand substrate used in the new setup, in half, since the soil will add more depth to the substrate.
Yes a "GOOD amount of time" is an understatement. I stepped into a similar project at the end of the summer thinking that I would be done in a few hours......my living room was filled with buckets of plants, fish, and decor; there were towels and old bed sheets everywhere, not to mention rearranging and pushing all the furniture in various cornesr. I don;t know if you are in a relationship, but generally wives are not impressed with such moves. lol.