I'm moving from my 20 gallons long to a 55 gallons(fish in cycle) due to overstocking and was thinking of doing a walstad style, however I'm getting a bit overwhelming on the option and not sure if I'm making a mistake.
20 gallons long
Planted tank, seasoned and cycled
Bottom subtrate: gravel
Top subtrate: fluval stratum
Filter:Hob and sponge
These are the three option to move to 55 gallon I was thinking of doing, any suggestions is welcome.
1. Mixture of fluval stratum and cheapest top soil( wash and drain several days to remove as much ammonia and wood as possible). Cap with leftover gravel( for mums and old bacteria) then pool filter sands.
[From my research miracle grow organic potting create too much ammonia, while cheap top soil likely to have no additives]
2. Mixture of gravel and stratum,then use dirted gel cap to slowly insert under subtrate over time.( maybe cap with sand or gravel?)
3.No dirted tank, more gravel subtrate mix with whatever leftover of the other tank.
I'm leaning towards the gel cap methods as that probably the safest.