'Breaking in' of ADA Amazonia soil

[nitrogenarian]

Greetings to all! I have the 'itch' to start a low maintenance planted. Right now, I'm still waiting for the bogwood to sink-in. The 2ft tank is already layed with ADA Amazonia.

I've been thinking if it is possible to fill up the tank with water first while the bogwood is still soaking. My aim is to 'break in' the ADA Amazonia soil to reduce the chances of cloudy/muddy when I am ready to start planting.

Please advice whether it is possible to try something like this:

1. Add water to tank with ADA Amazonia soil already in place.
2. Let the water settle down.
3. Run a small internal filter in the tank the next day (to prevent mozzie
breeding).
4. Periodic WC until tank water clears up.
5. When ready for planting, reduce water content in the tank till it is suitable
for planting.

Lastly, I would like to say that AQ is a very good website with a lot of unselfish contributors sharing their experiences! Well done webmaster!

Cheers,
C.H.

[Wackytpt]

There doesn't seems to be anything wrong with the steps you stated.

[ranmasatome]

Are you scaping? because if you are and moving things around later.. water will still cloud what.. jsut not as much lah.

[nitrogenarian]

Thank you for the replies Wackytpt and ranmasatome!

The bogwood is still not sinking so cannot proceed with the scaping.

Cheers,
C.H.

[AquaObsession]

I think for now, you just fill tank with water and let the DW sink. Then when your DW is ready, then you empty the tank completely, put in your ada soil, add just enough water for planting, then you continue to fill up. YOu can do an instant 90% water change right after. THen you fill in again very slowly, and that's it. You turn your filter on and just be patient afterwards.

Cheers, Christophe

[exotic]

as for the wood if it can't sink ..you could try boiling it...by boiling it...it could remove the air trap in the wood which causing it to float..

[ranmasatome]

weigh it down totally underwater.. then boil...then leave it there until the water cools totally... may help

[oblivion]

weigh it down totally underwater.. then boil...then leave it there until the water cools totally... may help

hehe i think you missed on adding ==> "repeat as necessary until desired results'

[krabbie]

since it's a new tank, why not just hold the BW in the tank with some objects like a brick? It will take a few iterations of boiling, soaking, boiling, soaking before it will sink. Too much trouble IMO.

[StanChung]

Hi CH, I would just saw some grooves onto the edge that needs sinking so that you can twist tie some rock onto it without it slipping.

Can't wait long when inspiration hits you know? This boiling will help rid it of the tannins-good for long term but since we typically do large weekly water changes this is not really a big problem unless you got the nasty type that make your water become tea like in a few hours.

[Sogyal]

recommend boiling cos last time my new wood leak alot of "tea" making my tank with dark brown water for a week

[StanChung]

Depends on the wood really, those harvested from dams are presoaked, sinks well in a day and leaches almost nothing.

[nitrogenarian]

Hi all! Have been busy for the whole week and seldom logged in.

A BIG thank you to all who have contributed with ideas and advices! Appreciate it greatly!

Currently, the bogwood has been soaked for more than 1 week. Still gonna let it remain in the pail. Next step forward will be gathering/buying the plants.

I hope the soil will not cloud the water too long.

Cheers,
C.H.

[krabbie]

Don't forget to change the water regularly ... if mosquito breed, you bleed.

[nitrogenarian]

Hi Krabbie, changing the water every 2 days! Thanks for the reminder!

Cheers,
C.H.