How to introduce soil into existing tank?

[Kazuo]

Changed to a bigger tank. Thought I would try a bare tank but got turned off after seeing the bottom of the tank full of waste the very next day.

Can someone teach me how I can insert soil into the tank without causing a mess, especially the water?

[klevin]

May i ask how big is your tank?

Maybe you could use a pvc pipe then gently pour the soil in. It'll still cloud the water so so 50% waterchange when you're done.

I did this when I'm adding some more soil to my already planted tank. If in your case you're just filling up a bare tank, why not drain it. Keep the water in buckets with the filters running then scape the tank as usual?

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[Kazuo]

My tank is only 2 feet in length and had already transferred all my fishes into it (which is why the bothering obvious fish waste).

Hmm... with the aid of a pvc pipe? Alright, will test it out. Thanks.

[toolkit]

Remember to monitor to water quality - ie. ammonia, nitirate, nitrite. There
will be a spike, so be careful.

[vinz]

I'm kinda of late, but in case you haven't done it yet. I just did it last weekend. I would have made a video except I was rushing to finish before my visitors arrived.

I use an empty plastic mineral water bottle.

1. Fill the bottle with the soil.
2. Lower the bottle into the tank and gently let the water fill the bottle.
3. Close the bottle opening with your thumb.
4. Turn the bottle upside down, still covering the opening with your thumb.
5. Once the bottle is near the tank bottom, remove your thumb and just let the soil pour out.
6. Once empty, thumb over the opening and remove the bottle.
7. Repeat.

It's sort of similar to the PVC pipe idea, but less clumsy and more controllable.

Here's a video of someone doing something similar, except he doesn't fill the bottle with water first. With my method, you don't need to squeeze the bottle... just let it pour out. Shake gently if it gets stuck, or cover the opening turn it upright and upside down again and continue pouring. Make sure to keep the bottle completely upside down to minimise the fine floating "dust" from escaping.


As mentioned by toolkit, be careful of ammonia spike. If you have an established filter, it shouldn't be an issue though.

[Larnall]

Awesome technique! Thanks Vinz.