Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

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smileysid
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Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by smileysid »

Hello all,

I am going to update my 3 feet tank (55Gallon) bottom with DIY substrate. The current tank is planted moderately with good growth through DIY fertz and good lighting-CO2 having inert fine gravels.
Though I want to update it with nutrient rich substrate for carpet plants and others, my major concern is the fishes.
Currently I have Neon tetras, Rummynose, Rosy Barbs, Danios, plecos etc, and they have well settled in the aqua environment. But as, I disturb the tank and update with DIY substrate, Will it effect if I add my fishes back to the tank quickly after the scaping is done?
Currently, I am having only one tank, so, I cant wait for few days to settle the aquarium and plants and then add the fishes.

Give your suggestions.
- Siddharth Sahani | Architect | Photographer | Aqua-hobbyist| www.siddharthsahani.com
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parthapratim22
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by parthapratim22 »

Yes it will, accidentally you may loose all the fished. Thats not because of the substrate but the ammonia poisoning.
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smileysid
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by smileysid »

Ammonia due to substrate? I am not going to wash/ rinse the current substrate gravels. Thinking of reusing it as it is along with 50% of the current tank water to retain the biological microorganism at max . Concern is to put a layer of nutrient rich layer in between.
Looking forward for more light on it.
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by saikumar »

What ever you do add lighter substrate at bottom and heavier substrate on top. It ll hold longer.
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smileysid
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by smileysid »

...hold longer to cycle the tank to its fullest?

Rajeev ji, what do u suggest?

Can I put ADA or other premium substrate over the current substrate? Will there still be a problem?
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by SCORPIO »

smileysid wrote:...hold longer to cycle the tank to its fullest?

Rajeev ji, what do u suggest?

Can I put ADA or other premium substrate over the current substrate? Will there still be a problem?
Dont make a cocktail. You can use branded susbstrate around 3-5 years. But if you mix with DIY, it will not reusable.
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smileysid
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by smileysid »

If i use branded one then can i put my fishes immediately?
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by parthapratim22 »

Branded soil tank also need to be cycled
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by SCORPIO »

parthapratim22 wrote:Branded soil tank also need to be cycled
:1
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saikumar
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Re: Updating tank with DIY Substrate (Coco-peat, Soilrite-Garden Soil, Fine gravels) and its quick effect on fishes

Unread post by saikumar »

SCORPIO wrote:
smileysid wrote:...hold longer to cycle the tank to its fullest?

Rajeev ji, what do u suggest?

Can I put ADA or other premium substrate over the current substrate? Will there still be a problem?
Dont make a cocktail. You can use branded susbstrate around 3-5 years. But if you mix with DIY, it will not reusable.
:1

By theory if lighter substrate is below heavier substrate lesser dust will leak into your tank. Most of the Diy substrates are prone to this.
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