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Usually I will compact the part where i put my rocks, so they will be stable and will not move when surrounding substrate move.
Hi,
just started using GEX soil, red packet type..
have position the rocks, but when I started planting, I find that the soil will "move" when my tweezer went in... and moving the rocks.. anyone have problem with this? or is this normal? quite frustrated because the rocks got mis-aligned after that ..
Usually I will compact the part where i put my rocks, so they will be stable and will not move when surrounding substrate move.
The GEX shrimp and plant soil are extremely light and I had a very very tough time trying to root my hairgrass initially, 3 hours of back pain struggling with 2 pots.
I wasn't given a choice and had to grow them in emmersed form before adding water after 2 weeks when their roots took hold.
Some time back, the substract besides my rocks i placed in my tank also moved when i accidentally knocked it once during my co2 setup, i had to remove the water and fill the gaps again with soil using a pair of tweezers until every stablises, then add back water.
Very fustrating.. But don't worry, this happens only initially and the soil will become heavier after being "soak" for some time.
fireblade,
hmm... don't have this problem with gex soil... is your rock on top of the soil or is it buried in the soil??
alechim,
won't compacting the soil making the soil become powder??
never leh, i just use my hands to press it down. compact enough to put rocks and not sink or move.Originally Posted by planted86
the rocks is half point in the soil..
here move there move very frustrating... really feel like ponding it :P
for such situation, i usually soak the soil first, fill in water not too much than higher than soil level. can try stir or shake abit to loosen and free air bubbles. The soil usually gets harden and easier to use after the air in between gaps released and water absorbed.
Add in your rocks or wood and plant and add water slowly and not too much at a time.
This will help greatly
actually the gravels has been soaked for quite sometime reused from the previous mini tank..
probably your substrate is loosely packed (which is good for plants). Try to compact the parts for your rocks, else you can place more rocks buried in the substrate and just underneath your intended rocks. As such they will give enough support and not "errode"
i observed that too... and worst..... the dust settled on my plants!!! now stuck~
maybe my tank is small? so slight movement will effect alot..
now feel like planting into mud..
It is not advisable to compact the soil below the rocks. What will happen is an anaerobic region under the rock due to the compacted soil. And that is regardless of what brand of soil you are looking at.
The more appropriate way will be to pour the soil around the rock to prevent the anaerobic situation from happening. I've not used that particular packaging of GEX soil before, so not sure if it is possible to do so still with my suggestion.
My interest has wandered! Do U?
Hi! I'm currently also using that soil, is normal that the soil is loosen especially when you do planting and if you have Yamato Scrimps they will also move the soil around when digging. The soil is light as like most of the soil for the plants rooting, too compact you may not get good rooting for the plants to grow.
Yes, in my case if the hairgrass is not properly rooted, the slightest water movement, eg during water change will uproot them. Which is why i had to grow all my HG in emmersed form for close to 2 weeks before filling them up.
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