Aquarium Substrate

[riseabovethesun]

I bought my fish tank wholesale, every single thing came with it as is and it had been set up for at least 3 years by the previous owners. So I have a question about the substrate but don't know specifically what kind it is...

To describe it it is like little tan pellets that when stirred around create a dust storm and you can mush them into mud in your finger. I feel like it is time for a change with the substate because it isn't looking so hot in my opinion anymore. I'm worried that it's too mushy in the center where I can't see and not leaving room for the roots of plants, etc.

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what types or if I shouldn't change it and how to go about that with a planted aquarium.

 

[OrangeCones]

I've never had any substrate that got mushy as you described. Some use cat litter as substrate or to mix with gravel. Could it be cat litter? A picture might be helpful.

With the plants and fish in there, it is hard to change it if you decide to do so. In 'adopting' aquariums from others, I've left it alone for several months (as you have already done) and changed out sections at a time. I use solid glass dividers to 'herd' the fish to the side I won't mess with and replace just a section at a time. That way, they don't have to cope with all that I stired up as I worked.

 

[riseabovethesun]

I've never had any substrate that got mushy as you described. Some use cat litter as substrate or to mix with gravel. Could it be cat litter? A picture might be helpful.

With the plants and fish in there, it is hard to change it if you decide to do so. In 'adopting' aquariums from others, I've left it alone for several months (as you have already done) and changed out sections at a time. I use solid glass dividers to 'herd' the fish to the side I won't mess with and replace just a section at a time. That way, they don't have to cope with all that I stired up as I worked.

Thank you SO much for your reply, I actually spent 7 hours last night fixing the tank. I went to the fish store around town because the place I had bought my tank from was super popular so the people knew of the tank. It was the Red Sea flora stuff, and they all said it should be changed yearly (not for everyone but most). I was going to do pure black sand and use fertilizer tablets, but ended up buying Eco Complete since it's gravel like but still has nutrients. I know it can alter a lot of the water levels, but it hasn't seemed to with mine. The fish guy thinks because I have SO much drift wood and used 25 gallons of the old water that it balanced it out..

After that trecherous seven hours my fish and plants are alive and have a brand new substrate. Your glass idea would have been helpful had I looked at this yesterday, dangit! It took ages to catch them and the shrimp, etc.

So for now everything is alive and I hope it stays that way..

 

[OrangeCones]

Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite for a few weeks. If you kept the same filters, you should be ok, since most of the n-bacteria resides there.

Good choice of substrate!

 

[achase]

I have eco-complete in both my tanks and I love it!

 

[riseabovethesun]

Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite for a few weeks. If you kept the same filters, you should be ok, since most of the n-bacteria resides there.

Good choice of substrate!

I kept the same filter and didn't clean it out or anything before doing the substrate change. The levels are still the same and still the same as when I had the other substrate. The pH is a bit higher, but I expected that and things are still fine.

Also I've had a nitrite level of 0.1ppm for weeks with the new and old substrate, why do you think that might be? I know 0 is optimal and less than 0.2 is definitely a must.

 

[riseabovethesun]

I have eco-complete in both my tanks and I love it!

It's just been two days and I am in love with the substrate, the black really makes the colors stand out and the water is crystal clear pretty much. No more flora base substrate particles on my plants!

 

[anshuman]

yup very clever choice regarding substrate. can i ask how much did the tank cost ? what are the dimensions of tank?

 

[riseabovethesun]

yup very clever choice regarding substrate. can i ask how much did the tank cost ? what are the dimensions of tank?

I'm really glad I chose it, took some debating but it worked out great. The dimensions are 30 by 11 by 20, bow goes out additional 3.5 inches.

And I don't know how much the tank completely empty by itself cost, I've seen some at Petco for $130.00 though. I paid $400.00, for the tank all set up, canister filter, loads of fish, all the plants, CO2, the stand, the light, the giant and small pieces of driftwood, etc. I bought it from a fish store where the owner's were moving out of town and just couldn't take this tank with the others and loads of people had called to come get it but I just got there first.

And after the $400.00 I have put another additional $100-200 dollars between fish and substrate and what not.