How do you store/keep excess substrate?

[Sudipto]

I have recently set up a tank where I used Fluval Stratum. I have some excess leftover stuff which I did not pour out of the original bag. I had cut only a small corner of the packet and kept that corner tightly packed with a binder clip. There is considerable trapped air inside the bag. The other day - after about seven days - I find the inside of the bag is quite moist and much warmer than the room temperature.

My question is - am I doing the right thing in terms of storing the excess Stratum? Should I roll the empty part of the packet down and then pack so that there is no air trapped inside? Or do I just ignore the moisture? For how long can I store the Stratum? I believe Stratum does not have any nutrition value in it. So I hope there is no way it can stop being effective any time soon?

Some help and guidance will be really appreciated please.

PS: I forgot to mention - I live in very hot and humid Calcutta.

[Urban Aquaria]

Sealing the bag is okay... personally i usually transfer extra soil into ziplock bags for storage, and i do also find that it tends to mist up inside the bags after a few days, that is just the excess moisture in the soil releasing out. After a few weeks and months, the soil will gradually dry out over time. I have stored ADA aquasoil for up to a year before using and it was still okay with nutrient content still the same.

I notice that most aquarium soil are slightly moist in retail bags to retain their shape, i guess if they dry out it tends to result in the soil getting more easily crushed into powder and dust.

Yeah, its also hot and humid in Singapore too.

[Sudipto]

Yeah, its also hot and humid in Singapore too.

That's precisely the reason why I asked this question on this particular forum :-) Your answer makes sense that the soil is a little moist so that the shape is retained. Thanks for your explanation and for sharing your experience. I will probably and hopefully use the Stratum up before one year.