How to top up soil?

**tripleJ** · 14th Oct 2010, 16:21

Have a existing tank with crs inside. gex soil has been there for about 16 months. Do you just top up the soil or change all of it. How do you to top it up?

**NingNing** · 15th Oct 2010, 13:33

Why do you want to top up the soil? no lowering of PH properties? if so use peat instead.

Unless your soil has become mud then...

if you want to add soil, get a pipe, (pvc pipe), put it vertically down onto the place u want to add the soil, then slowly pour abit.

continue until satisfied. add slowly and gradually because ammonia is expected in any shrimp soil.

**tripleJ** · 16th Oct 2010, 00:25

Read in forum (Not too sure which one) that the soil will typically exhaust its pH control in about 2 years. Just want to top it up or change soil before it exhaust.

Thanks for your advice. The soil in my tank looks powdery at certain spots along the side of the tank.

**eviltrain** · 17th Oct 2010, 04:54

if your tank is simple, just do a reset. change out the old soil and replace with the new soil. but remember to cycle the soil as it will cause ammonia spikes.

**goody992828** · 19th Oct 2010, 15:52

So you will probably need a holding tank for your CRS while your new soil is under cycling process.

**fastlane** · 19th Oct 2010, 16:36

Very risky to transfer shrimps. Just top up as per Ning Ning's recommendations. On top of your old soil. Trick is to do it bit by bit. I don't think Gex soil has ammonia.