Reply With Quotedont need to wash the soil if your shrimps or fishes are living happily in it
I read in the forum that water change for shrimp tank is advocated. I do that and also wash the filter.
My question is, is there a need to do a thorough clean-up, that is, wash the soil, scrub the tank, etc.
I haven't been doing that for many months. Just want to find out from the veterans, is there a need? Whenever I stir the soil, I can see dust or particles. So, please advise.
Last edited by brightsp@rky; 23rd May 2009 at 10:24.
Brightsp@rky
~ Mother to 3 kids, and numerous CRS ~
dont need to wash the soil if your shrimps or fishes are living happily in it
my ADA soil like turning sticky stick after 1 year...
Hope to hear from others. Zongwei21...saw from your various posts, you seem to be new...so I do not know whether your advice is based on experience.
Brightsp@rky
~ Mother to 3 kids, and numerous CRS ~
Soil does not require washing. Soil last between 1.5-2years, before loosing it's buffering effect and nutrients. Stirring the soil too much may cause ammonia spike. It is normal for soil to disintegrate over time, and those are the dust you are talking about.
A total cleaning would means re-starting your tank. Use the age of your soil as a gauge to re-start your tank.
For my tank, when I feel that the dust are too much, I would use my nano wave maker to create "wave" in the tank.This will blow up the dust and dirt, and the filter would do the rest of the work.
Is the top layer also sticky? If so, I would recommend you to get small amount of new soil to cover it.Originally Posted by Jimmy
Not recommended to stir too much of the substrate in a shrimp tank.
i think there's no need to do a thorough cleaning. you also can't, if you have nutrient-rich soil like ADA/GEX which you can't wash.
also would we be killing the good bacteria with too much cleaning? perhaps frequent water changes would be sufficient.
I didn't stir much, to me only the top layer looks and feel sticky. Necessary to cover with new soil? If I don't, any impact? What's the benefit of doing it?Thanks!
i don't wash the soil. might cause too much stress to little creatures.
Last edited by reagan022; 23rd May 2009 at 13:10.
OK...don't touch the soil. But what about scrubbing of the tank. There are algae on it, I use a toothbrush to brush off some, but there are corners and at the base that I can't reach. So, just leave it, and wait till the soil is disintegrated then change totally?
Brightsp@rky
~ Mother to 3 kids, and numerous CRS ~
why so secretive, using other nick?
My newly custom tank setup 4ft x 1ft x 1.ft, IOS with sump filteration (3months)..
I change the filter wool when it dirty, without disturb the of media ceramic ring etc.
Almost everyday i will use small air tube to suck out dirt, around 2 lits of water will be replaced..
Occasionally i will scrub off tank wall algae, this allow me to have better view on shrimps.
Sometime i do a litter stirring on soils and suck it into filter compartment.
I use an old unwanted credit card. It can reach to wall areas covered by substrate.
I don't see why scrubbing the algae away from the side or corners of tank will do any harm cause I do that too, weekly. But I usually clean my hand thoroughly and make sure it does not affect the water quality in the process. I'm using new filter wools to clear off algae.For those narrow places you cant reach using toothbrush, find an unused card as some bros here already mentioned. Tried it too and find it one of the most effective way but I only apply when there's stubborn algae. Hope it helps...
My friend says credit card only works for plastic tanks but not glass tank. Guess, one way is to test. Thanks for the replies, guys.
Brightsp@rky
~ Mother to 3 kids, and numerous CRS ~
For the soil, it is up to you on when you want to change it. Some will use it till the soil becomes mud. Some will change it at a fixed time period, eg 1year, 1.5 years, 2 years.
Credit cards works well for glass tanks. I had been using it to scrub my tanks walls regularly. And I do it before water change.
If strirring the soil create ammonia spike, what about using undergravel cleaner? Anyone ever tried it before?
i am currently using undergravel vaccum cleaner,only suitable with tanks with gravels or a bare bottom.
vacuum substrate lightly every 3-6mth, careful of shrimplets. Scrub tank glass wkly followed by water change.
Cheers,
Melvin Lim
heard that some bros just topup slightly with new soil and over a period of time.
is this the right way, so as not to stir too much 'dust' ?
Yes someone pls answer question by betlinjs I want to know too. Also do we need to rinse the soil eg ada first before adding?
Brightsp@rky
~ Mother to 3 kids, and numerous CRS ~
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