Hi guys,
Trying out some aquascaping in one of my tanks and would like to add some soil to an already established tank but need to make sure it won't cause an ammonia spike. It's just a little 37g tall with some rocks, a piece of driftwood with some java moss growing over it, duckweed, and some hairgrass in a pot floating and waiting to be planted. I've got a natural looking gravel in there right now and I planned to just stick the new soil over the existing gravel 1) because it looks nice and 2) because it will create a thicker layer.
I've got a new Japanese soil we've been using for our planted shrimp tanks at work that works really well, but I can't really find much info on it online. It says to let it filter for 12 hrs before adding fish but what if I want to add it to my existing tank? I've come across some info on people saying soils will cause ammonia spikes but those were also products that said to filter for 3 weeks before fish. Also, would it cause my PH to drop too quickly? I've got 7.5 ish straight from the tap and this soil causes it to drop, which my fish would like, but hopefully it won't happen too drastically.
It's a 37 tall, 50g sponge filter, air stone, and a light I picked up from work specifically for plant lighting (I forget exactly which one)
This is also housing two beautiful little morymrus kanuume (freshwater dolphin fish) so it's essential that I am as cautious as possible. I'd put them in my 125 but it's housing some feisty SA cichlids.
The soil is "Mr. Aqua Water Plants Activated Soil." Most of it is in Japanese lol
Trying out some aquascaping in one of my tanks and would like to add some soil to an already established tank but need to make sure it won't cause an ammonia spike. It's just a little 37g tall with some rocks, a piece of driftwood with some java moss growing over it, duckweed, and some hairgrass in a pot floating and waiting to be planted. I've got a natural looking gravel in there right now and I planned to just stick the new soil over the existing gravel 1) because it looks nice and 2) because it will create a thicker layer.
I've got a new Japanese soil we've been using for our planted shrimp tanks at work that works really well, but I can't really find much info on it online. It says to let it filter for 12 hrs before adding fish but what if I want to add it to my existing tank? I've come across some info on people saying soils will cause ammonia spikes but those were also products that said to filter for 3 weeks before fish. Also, would it cause my PH to drop too quickly? I've got 7.5 ish straight from the tap and this soil causes it to drop, which my fish would like, but hopefully it won't happen too drastically.
It's a 37 tall, 50g sponge filter, air stone, and a light I picked up from work specifically for plant lighting (I forget exactly which one)
This is also housing two beautiful little morymrus kanuume (freshwater dolphin fish) so it's essential that I am as cautious as possible. I'd put them in my 125 but it's housing some feisty SA cichlids.
The soil is "Mr. Aqua Water Plants Activated Soil." Most of it is in Japanese lol
I'm aware it will lower PH, does it happen rapidly though? I'm concerned about rapid change even if it's ideal for the fish. They've adjusted to slightly harder water. 
