adding soil after shrimp and plant are in the tank

[richgoh]

hi bro/sis,

I have a 1 month plus tank and with crs & cerry inside. thinking to rescape my tank and need to add additional ada amanzonia II into it.

anyone with experience on how to do it with less impact to existing crs and shrimp??

[o2bubble]

Take out as many shrimps and fishes and then as much water (>90%, reserve 50% for topup later) in the tank as possible before adding the soil. Prepare for some casualty. I have done it before. After adding the soil, top up the water with new water and then remove the water (>50%) and add back the original 50% water.

[o2bubble]

btw, put the shrimps in a seperate tank for a few days first before adding back to the tank after ensuring the water parameters are ok (test for ammonia and nitrate, GH/KH etc). They should survive.

[Lucrado]

Hi,maybe you can add in a pack of zeolite in the filter. It will help to absorb and remove ammonia from the fish tank water. [There will be an increase in ammonia levels since you added new soil].

[richgoh]

btw, put the shrimps in a seperate tank for a few days first before adding back to the tank after ensuring the water parameters are ok (test for ammonia and nitrate, GH/KH etc). They should survive.

bro o2bubble,

i am thinking to add bit by bit say 200grms per day. do you think i still need to put the shrimps in separate tank?

[richgoh]

Hi,maybe you can add in a pack of zeolite in the filter. It will help to absorb and remove ammonia from the fish tank water. [There will be an increase in ammonia levels since you added new soil].

bro lucrado,

never use zeolite before. but i think it's good since i dont intend to move my shrimp to another tank. actually i dont have extra tank

[adeguay]

I just add in 1/4 ADA 1 into my 4 foot tank last friday.
There are Cherry shrimp and tetra fish.
So far so good. Only thing is the PH drop to 6.3
Now watch the PH level before adding more ADA.

[goody992828]

Hi maybe you want to use a long tube and plunge it inside you tank soil and by using a funnel at the other end and pour soil into the tube and let it settle down will be a good way without disrupting the water too much. hope this helps.

[richgoh]

I just add in 1/4 ADA 1 into my 4 foot tank last friday.
There are Cherry shrimp and tetra fish.
So far so good. Only thing is the PH drop to 6.3
Now watch the PH level before adding more ADA.

my ph now is 6.5. if adding it i think it will go below 6.3. may be my co2 have to turn a bit smaller liau

btw, fr your avatar is the HC on the front floor bed?

[richgoh]

Hi maybe you want to use a long tube and plunge it inside you tank soil and by using a funnel at the other end and pour soil into the tube and let it settle down will be a good way without disrupting the water too much. hope this helps.

hi bro,

i think it will work. I will try tonight

[eviltrain]

wah, brother goody for your idea~! now i know how to top up already.
but i guess it's safer to add portion by portion. not all in one shot.

[goody992828]

wah, brother goody for your idea~! now i know how to top up already.
but i guess it's safer to add portion by portion. not all in one shot.

Haha thanks bro eviltrain, just my 2 cents thought. And yes portion by portion is safer.

[o2bubble]

Bro Goody, wow, thats a very good creative idea. Too bad I did not think of it last time and end up spending alot of effort

[adeguay]

my ph now is 6.5. if adding it i think it will go below 6.3. may be my co2 have to turn a bit smaller liau

btw, fr your avatar is the HC on the front floor bed?

That not HC. It is Japanese HG. I have tear down half of it and trying to chnage to HC. that why i need to top up ADA soil

[weng0202]

I think you better not risk it. Adding soil now will introduce too many changes in water parameters. I rather you setup the tank again. Do you really need to add soil? Lapis might be less risky.

[tawauboy]

i doubt the tube and funnel method will work.
after the soil has settled to the bottom end of the tube, how does the soil exit the tube? the existing soil is blocking the tube. unless a plunger is used to push the soil out of the tube.

[adeguay]

I think you better not risk it. Adding soil now will introduce too many changes in water parameters. I rather you setup the tank again. Do you really need to add soil? Lapis might be less risky.

So far so good, no dead fish or shrimp after 3 day. Just PH a bit low.

My current soil is GEX, which i think is not rich enough for HC. Have fail more than 5 time on HC. Saw the forum people got success using ADA soil.
Giving it a try.

No need to use pipe. Just use a bowl and scope the soil from the bag and pour directly to the tank. That why i did. Fast and easy. Monitor the PH level.

[crazyhanz]

So far so good, no dead fish or shrimp after 3 day. Just PH a bit low.

My current soil is GEX, which i think is not rich enough for HC. Have fail more than 5 time on HC. Saw the forum people got success using ADA soil.
Giving it a try.

No need to use pipe. Just use a bowl and scope the soil from the bag and pour directly to the tank. That why i did. Fast and easy. Monitor the PH level.

Actually GEX is good enough for HC. I had an Iwagumi scape with a lawn of HC grown successfully with the soil. Your problem might be the lights or CO2. Try playing around with your equipment.

[goody992828]

Bro Goody, wow, thats a very good creative idea. Too bad I did not think of it last time and end up spending alot of effort

Thanks Bro o2bubble, that what this forum are for, to share ideas... hehe

[goody992828]

i doubt the tube and funnel method will work.
after the soil has settled to the bottom end of the tube, how does the soil exit the tube? the existing soil is blocking the tube. unless a plunger is used to push the soil out of the tube.

No need Plunger, you just need to lift the tube bit by bit and spread it out on the surface of those area that you want to top up soil and than let the soil settle down on the surface of the old soil bit by bit. Ofcourse there will be some debrits here and there but at least it will not totally cloud your water.